Passage of Legislation Authorizing State to Protect Nail and Beauty Salon Workers

I recently joined Governor Cuomo at the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen Library in Midtown for the launch of a nail salon industry consumer education event to inform the public about workers’ rights and ensure that business owners live up to their responsibilities and obligations under the law. This initiative by Governor Cuomo follows reports in the New York Times exposing the unsafe working conditions that plague employees in the nail salon industry. Along with Assembly Member Ron Kim, I introduced legislation (S5748/A7630) that would provide the New York Secretary of State with the necessary tools to take action to end unlicensed or uninsured business activities and to impose stringent fines on bad operators. It would also provide a new path to employment through an apprenticeship trainee program. A version of my legislation, which I co-sponsor, passed the legislature on June 17th. I applaud the Governor for his leadership on this issue and look forward to our legislation helping end these abuses that are happening in plain sight throughout hundreds of nail salons in our Senate District and across the city.