Project description: For the last several years, Pinay has been leading a campaign in Quebec to have domestic workers (many of whom are of Filipino origin) covered under the provincial CSST program (worker's compensation). Up until now, they have not been included under the CSST program because the Quebec government does not consider domestic workers to be actual workers. In order to push forward with this campaign, Pinay is looking for research which would prove that domestic work does in fact have impacts on the worker's health.
The student doing this research project will examine the health impacts and hazards of domestic work. Research should be conducted via primary (interviews with domestic workers – to be facilitated via Pinay) and secondary sources. Particular attention should be paid to cancer rates among domestic workers, chemical cleaner use, muscle injury, and stress factors.
Final product: The final product should be a detailed report to be submitted to Pinay, which will be used in the context of their campaign for CSST for domestic workers.
About the organization: PINAY, founded in 1991, is the first Filipino Women's Organization that works to empower and organize Filipino women in Quebec, particularly Filipino domestic workers. Most of its members are migrant workers under the Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP). For 18 years, Pinay has brought together domestic workers and their supporters together in the struggle for basic rights and welfare.