We never charge for our services. The organization facilitates access to justice for current and former live-in caregivers through the provision of legal assistance, legal information, public legal education, and advocacy. WCDWA was established in 1986 by two UBC law students who were researching problems facing domestic workers. In 1987, WCDWA officially incorporated as a non-profit society. Over the years, WCDWA has received grants from the Law Foundation, BC Gaming Branch, Status of Women Canada, Notary Foundation, Vancity, BC Government and Employees Union, and many other donors. Over the years, WCDWA has assisted thousands of clients with their individual legal cases. The organization is a sought after provider of public legal education and has been highly involved in law reform work and test case litigation for issues involving caregivers. WCDWA engaged in advocacy for caregivers to be protected under the Employment Standards Act (ESA). In 1993, the ESA was substantially amended to extend protections to live in caregivers included provisions regarding minimum wage and overtime guarantees. Employers were prohibited from exceeding a maximum board and lodging rate and caregivers were granted the right to lodge complaints at the Employment Standards Branch. In 1997, WCDWA conducted and published research about working conditions of caregivers. 1999, WCDWA travelled to Ottawa to provide feedback to the federal government about issues affecting live in caregivers. In 2000, WCDWA presented a brief to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration regarding Bill C-31 ‘A Bill to Revise Canada’s Immigration Act’. In the same year, in partnership with Frontier College, WCDWA launched an ESL program to provide one on one ESL classes to live-in caregivers. In 2005, WCDWA brought two landmark judicial review applicants in Federal Court of Canada on behalf of live in caregivers. The court allowed WCDWAs application agreeing that CIC’s materials were hard to read and understand. In the same year, WCDWA wrote a gender based analysis of the live- in caregiver program and won a precedent setting case that live in caregivers in the LCP are entitled to employment insurance benefits when they are laid off work. Today we continue to be heavily involved in law reform and case work. Currently, WCDWA is on the Migrant Worker Sub Committee for BC Employment Standards to the Next Decade Coalition. In 2011 WCDWA, in partnership with MOSAIC, developed a fact sheet on labour trafficking issues. WCDWA regularly meets with federal and provincial politicians to discuss issues related to live in caregivers.
