Dead Caregiver's Supporters Call for Ministry of Labour Investigation, End to Domestic Worker Exclusion

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 10, 2014) - Friends and supporters of Marites Angana will be holding a media briefing at Queen's Park Media Studio, on Friday, December 12th at 10:30 a.m. calling for a Ministry of Labour investigation into her death, and demanding equal health and safety protections for migrant workers in Ontario. Ms. Angana, a live-in caregiver from the Philippines, died of a brain haemorrhage on December 2, 2014 at the Toronto Western Hospital after suffering a head injury from a fall in her employer's garage. Domestic workers, many of whom are live-in caregivers like Marites Angana, are excluded from the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Thus, despite her death being a workplace fatality, no Ministry of Labour investigation has been announced.

A Marites Angana Fund has been created to raise funds for her family in the Philippines. Cheques can be sent to Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, 18 Thorncliffe Park Drive, Toronto, ON M4H 1N7.

WHAT: Calls for inclusion of domestic workers in Occupational Health and Safety Act and a Ministry of Labour investigation in the death of Marites Angana.

WHEN: 10:30 a.m., December 12, 2014

WHERE: Queen's Park Media Studio

WHO: Liza Draman (Caregivers Action Centre), Ernie Puguon (Ifugao Association of Canada), Coco Diaz (Caregiver Connections Education and Support Organization), Maryth Yachnin (IAVGO Community Legal Clinic), Pet Cleto (Gabriella)

Quick Facts

- Marites Angana started work as a live-in caregiver in Toronto in August 2014. She died of a brain haemorrhage from a fall while at work on December 2, 2014.

- Domestic workers, many of whom are current or former live-in caregivers, are excluded from the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), which provides health and safety protections to Ontario workers, and triggers a Ministry of Labour investigation in the case of serious injury or death at the workplace.

- A Ministry of Labour investigation would uncover the causes of Marites Angana's death to better prevent future workplace accidents.

- On November 30th, 2014, the Federal Government of Canada placed a cap on number of Caregivers that can access permanent residency each year and made the live-in requirement optional. However, caregivers' workplaces will continue to be their employers' homes, including those who remain domestic workers after receiving permanent residency.

- Supporters are calling for: the inclusion of domestic workers in OHSA; full WSIB coverage for all domestic workers; provision of the choice and means for all injured migrant workers to stay in Ontario for healthcare; and an end to the practice of deeming which cuts injured migrant workers' compensation by pretending they can do suitable jobs in Ontario even though they are legally prohibited by federal immigration law from doing such work.