Dozens of home care workers staged a sit-in outside New York City Hall on Wednesday, demanding the abolition of 24-hour shifts. Organizers said the protest, which began on March 18, will continue for an indefinite period. The workers are calling on Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the City Council to support proposed legislation that would ban 24-hour shifts
and introduce a maximum 12-hour workday.
The protest stems from a long-standing and controversial policy under which home care workers are paid for only 13 hours despite working 24-hour shifts. While the rules stipulate that workers should receive three hours for meal breaks and at least five hours of uninterrupted sleep, workers say these conditions are rarely met in practice.
Many of the participants in the sit-in are elderly immigrant women from Asia and Latin America. Braving cold weather, they gathered near Broadway and Murray Street, vowing to continue their protest until their demands are addressed.
Workers allege that in some cases they are required to work up to 96 consecutive hours, while being paid for only a fraction of that time. They say such conditions have taken a severe toll on their physical and mental health.
Mireya Silva, 73, a home care worker, said she was forced into early retirement due to the physical strain of the job. She reported suffering from spinal issues, stress fractures in her hands, and other health complications caused by years of demanding labor.
According to organizers, replacing 24-hour shifts with two 12-hour shifts would reduce worker fatigue and improve the quality of care. However, some stakeholders note that implementing such changes would require additional state funding.
Source: The City | Photo: The City
