Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act

The Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to guarantee minimum wage and overtime pay protections for over 3 million home care workers. Currently, federal law includes a broad exemption that excludes most home care workers from minimum wage and overtime protections that apply to other workers. If enacted, this bill would remove that exemption and ensure home care workers receive the same basic wage protections as other employees, including overtime compensation for hours worked beyond the standard workweek.

Home care workers provide essential services to seniors and people with disabilities, allowing them to remain in their own homes. Supporters argue that many home care workers currently earn very low wages and sometimes work unpaid hours. The bill would codify these protections in federal law, preventing them from being changed through regulatory action. The legislation is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.