A number of domestic workers in New York and New Jersey have been victims of sexual harassment at the hands of their employers. Many domestic workers prefer to keep quiet for fear of losing their jobs.

Delia Rosas, 23, originally from Guerrero, worked for a Jewish family in New Jersey. She lived with them for two years and worked more than 12 hours a day for a weekly salary of $350. Not only was Rosas exploited, but her employer sexually harassed her.

"I had to secure my door with a lock and block it with furniture so that he couldn't enter my room. I was always afraid that one day he would try to do something to me. The hardest part was being in the house by myself," said Rosas.

Rosas affirmed that on various occasions, her employer offered her $50 for a massage, but Rosas rejected the money out of dignity. Her employer also made her wear dark clothing so that "other men wouldn't be tempted to look" at her.

A terrible experience

"I wore loose, black clothing that covered me from my neck down to my feet, and my employer still harassed me. He always told me obscene things and his wife didn't know. I didn't say anything because I needed the money," said Rosas.

Rosas finally left the house when the verbal abuse turned physical.

"I was cleaning the bathroom when my employer entered, locked the door, and touched me in a way that made me feel very uncomfortable," described Rosas, "That same day I left the house. They didn't pay me for that week and they didn't let me return to pack up my things, either."

Delia is now a day laborer and looks for work every day on Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn. Despite her terrible experience, she still puts herself at risk by cleaning other houses where she doesn't know the employer very well.

Report abuse

To receive counseling and prevent further abuse, call Domestic Workers United at 212-481-5747 or visit their offices, at 1201 Broadway, Suites 907 and 908, in Manhattan.