South Florida Study Finds 67% of Domestic Workers Suffered Abuse

A recent survey conducted in South Florida found that 67 percent of domestic workers reported experiencing some form of abuse. The data comes from a report released by The Right to Freedom, an organization dedicated to protecting household laborers. The study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that millions of workers in this sector face difficult conditions across the United States.

Karla de Anda founded The Right to Freedom three years ago after working as a nanny for 25 years. She arrived in the United States with a job that paid five dollars per hour, a rate below the minimum wage at the time. She recalled working far more hours than agreed upon and being asked to clean the home, tasks that were not part of her original duties. After becoming a citizen, she observed that many other nannies and domestic workers faced similar systematic problems, which motivated her to start the association.

The national context is equally concerning. Estimates suggest there are approximately 2.2 million domestic workers in the United States, the vast majority of whom are women. According to the new report, nine out of ten of these workers operate without a written contract. More than half work more than 50 hours per week. De Anda described the abuse in her region as ranging from unpaid wages to coercion and physical violence. She noted recent cases of sexual harassment and a reported rape in Key Biscayne.

In that specific case, a worker in a five-million-dollar mansion waited one month to report the rape to the police. The officers told her it was too late to investigate. De Anda highlighted that many workers lack immigration status, making them vulnerable to fear of reporting crimes. Approximately one in four domestic workers are not citizens, though she believes the number is likely higher. The report also identified fraud in more than half of the cases involving agencies that placed workers. Some cases involved visa fraud or human trafficking, with one woman found living in a closet to hide from detection.

De Anda explained that her organization often helps victims secure T visas or U visas, which are designed for specific immigration situations. In one instance, a Mexican family sponsored two women on tourist visas who later escaped and reported theft. The organization helped one of the women obtain a T visa, and she is now a citizen. She also warned that cooperation agreements between local police and ICE, known as 287(g) agreements, are making it harder for undocumented workers to leave their homes or report domestic violence.

Many workers choose not to report crimes because they fear being turned over to immigration authorities. De Anda said this leads to lower official crime statistics, even though the actual number of incidents remains high. Her organization focuses on educating workers about their rights and helping them document their hours and activities. She advised workers to keep records of their schedules and save text messages that could serve as evidence in legal defense.

The organization is currently expanding its training programs for nannies and domestic workers. They are preparing to hold a graduation ceremony for a group of nannies who have specialized in caring for newborns and neurodivergent children. This training aims to give workers a clearer path to professional advancement and a better understanding of their legal protections.