NEW YORK - Congressman Charles Rangel joined local elected and community leaders this week in celebrating new state protections for domestic workers in New York State.

New York Governor David Paterson signed the legislation Tuesday morning at Harlem's Dwyer Cultural Center.

"I want to thank Governor Paterson, Assemblymen Keith Wright, and the other members of the New York State Legislature for passing this important measure," said Congressman Rangel. "Today is a victory in the continuing struggle of the American worker. For too long, New York State’s domestic workers have had to work in the shadows, putting in the hard work and long hours that so many employees do in other industries without getting the protections that for so many are routine. I can’t think of a more fitting way to get an early start to celebrating Labor Day than the signing of this bill into law."

The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights guarantees overtime pay, a minimum of one day off every seven days, three days of paid leave per year, and protections against sexual harassment and racial discrimination. The protections are in place for employees regardless of immigration status or whether they are official paid "on the books."

“For far too long domestic workers have labored tirelessly without the labor protections available to almost every other group of workers throughout New York State," said Assemblyman Keith LT Wright, who led the fight for the bill's passage in the New York State Assembly " I applaud the tenacity of all of the domestic workers who lobbied, advocated and rallied for this legislation for many, many years and helped our State pass the laws necessary to protect all people who reside within it. In 2009, Governor Paterson promised to sign this bill once it was passed by the State legislature and today we see that promise kept. It is a great day for New York State and my sincerest gratitude goes out to all who helped turn this legislative dream into a chaptered reality.”

The historic legislation becomes effective December 1st.