Damayan Members Learn About the NYC Secure Jobs Act and Pyramid Schemes

“The July 15 Members Meeting is very important to me because of the agenda and information about the NYC Secure Jobs Act, that prevents firing of employees without valid reasons,”

Ate Herminia, Damayan Member

On July 15th, dozens of workers gathered for Damayan’s July 2023 Member’s Meeting at the People’s Forum Manhattan. Our meeting included the following:

  • Secure Jobs Act Information Session: Attorney Paul Sonn, State Policy Program Director at the National Employment Law Project (NELP), explained what the Make The Road Coalition and other worker-groups have been organizing for: passing Secure Jobs Act at the New York City Council. The act requires a just cause for firings, 14 day notice, a progressive discipline system, and more. In the largely informal domestic-worker economy, our members look forward to joining the advocacy efforts to pass this significant act and protect more vulnerable workers. 

  • Financial Security Advisory: Damayan staff presented to our members the New York State Attorney General’s advisory regarding protecting oneself from multi-level marketing schemes and pyramid schemes, which often prey on low-income, immigrant communities like ours. 

  • Damayan Program Updates: Damayan Organizer Lydia Catina provided an overview of Damayan’s last few weeks, including our youth organizing of the reunified children of trafficking-survivor members. We also opened the application process for our upcoming We Rise Nanny Training program.

  • Current Event Updates: Damayan members learned about how the Florida governor passed the anti-immigrant law SB1718 and how we can protect ourselves and our community when traveling to Florida, seeking healthcare in Florida, and driving in Florida. 

We hope you can join us for our next event: the Damayan Annual General Assembly and Board Election on Saturday, July 29, 2023, 11am Registration, 12-4:30pm Program. Register here: damayanmigrants.org/GA2023