U.S. President Barack Obama is guaranteeing minimum wage and overtime protection for the nearly two million in-home workers who help the elderly and infirm (weak in body).

In a speech Thursday in Washington, President Obama said his administration will make sure in-home workers get paid fairly for a service that many older Americans cannot live without.

Mr. Obama said those workers are currently not guaranteed minimum wage and overtime pay. He noted that they often make as much as teenage babysitters.

The president also said some of the staffing companies that employ in-home workers pay them fairly, but others do not.

According to the White House, 92 percent of home care workers are women, nearly 30 percent are African-American, 12 percent are Hispanic and close to 40 percent rely on food stamps and other government aid.

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said many of those women are the main source of income for their families.

Under a U.S. labor law , in-home workers are now exempt from minimum wage and overtime pay requirements.