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If you need help

If your employer treats you unfairly, you can call or write to the nearest provincial or territorial Employment office. Your employer may not penalize you for complaining to these agencies. Agencies may ask you, however, if you have tried first to resolve the problem yourself by talking to your employer. Remember that your employer may not realize there is a problem. You may be able to solve it yourself just by letting your employer know how you feel. You can always call T&CS Canada and ask for an advice.

Employees have the right to privacy in the employer's home. For example, you should ask for a lock on the door of your own room as well as a key to the employer's house. Off-duty time is yours to spend as you wish: your employer cannot insist that you spend your own time in his or her house. You have the right to refuse to do work that is not covered under your contract with the employer.

Your legal documents, such as your passport and employment authorization, are your private property. Do not give them to your employer.

If you suffer from other difficulties such as stress, anxiety or any other concern, you will find there are many non-government organizations that can help. These are usually listed in the telephone directory. In every province and territory, there are private and public agencies ready to offer encouragement, advice and help. In some locations, there are also professional support networks of live-in domestic or caregiver workers. Check your telephone directory. There is not usually a charge for these services. In some cities, there are telephone services which provide recorded information on legal matters free of charge.

There are organizations that specialize in helping and supporting domestic workers:

In Ontario:

Canadian Coalition for In-Home Care
12 Irwin Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M4Y 1K9
Telephone: (905) 849-6520
Fax: (905) 849-6921

Toronto Organization for Domestic Worker's Rights (Intercede)

234 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, Ontario
M6G 1A5
Telephone: (416) 483-4554
Fax: (416) 483-9781

Ottawa Multicultural Homemakers Association (OMHA) c/o Ottawa-Carleton Immigrant Services Organization

959 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1Y 4W1
Telephone: (613) 725-0202
Fax: (613) 725-9054

In British Columbia:

West Coast Domestic Workers Association
119 Pender Street West
Suite 302
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 1S5
Telephone: (604) 669-4482
Fax: (604) 669-6456

Philippine Women's Centre

Kalayaan Centre
451 Powell Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6A 1G7
Telephone: (604) 215-1103
Fax: (604) 215-1103

Committee for Domestic Workers' and Caregivers' Rights

789 14th Street East
Vancouver, British Columbia
V5P 1H9
Telephone: (604) 874-0649
Fax: (604) 874-0649

In Saskatchewan:

Domestic Workers' Association of Saskatchewan
c/o Immigrant Women of Saskatchewan
2248 Lorne Street
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 2M7
Telephone: (306) 359-6514
Fax: (306) 522-9959

In Alberta:

Calgary Immigrant Women's Centre
Domestic Worker's Group
750 11th Street South West
Suite 300
Calgary, Alberta T2P 3E9
Telephone: (403) 263-4414
Fax: (403) 264-3914

In Quebec:

Household Workers Association
1857 De Maisonneuve West
Suite 318
Montreal, Quebec H3H 1J9
Telephone: (514) 937-6873
Fax: (514) 937-5548