By Bob Katzen

The House and Senate, on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and sent to Gov. Healey a measure that would annually establish June 16 as Domestic Workers’ Rights Day to honor all domestic workers who work in private homes and in recognition of Massachusetts’ historic enactment of basic labor standards in the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights.

“For me, [the bill] is really about building on the important work that began with the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, which passed before I joined the House of Representatives,” said co-sponsor Rep. Judith Garcia (D-Everett). “This holiday is symbolic in nature, but deeply meaningful because it recognizes the domestic workers whose care and labor are so important to families across our commonwealth. I’m very grateful to see it receive final approval from both branches and reach Gov. Healey’s desk …This moment really belongs to the domestic workers and advocates who have been doing this work for years.”

Co-sponsor Rep. Priscila Sousa (D-Framingham) did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call asking her how she feels about the bill’s passage and why she filed it.