Domestic workers in MoCo mistreated

This WaPo article is concerning in and of itself, and of course the County Council should take up CASA of Maryland's suggestions regarding a workers' bill of rights. But it also raises a troubling question in the context of immigration reform: namely, that even if we bring illegal immigrants "out of the shadows," as many advocates of serious reform claim, will it change anything about their situation, given that most unskilled workers (and many skilled workers) are getting a raw deal for their services in this country? Even raising the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour (with or without a tax cut for the rich) or a living wage wouldn't change the rules of the game regarding family leave, overtime, and other benefits. On the other hand, it's worth noting that CASA of Maryland is advocating a workers' bill of rights for all employees in the county, further evidence that the future of labor is intertwined with the fate of Latino immigrants.

Tags: Maryland politics, immigration, Montgomery, living wage, labor