Assembly Member Ron Kim and Senator Brad Hoylman Introduce Legislation Authorizing State to Protect Nail and Beauty Salon Workers

ALBANY –Assembly Member Ron Kim (D-Queens) and State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) have introduced a bill (A.7630/S.5748) supported by New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo that would empower the Secretary of State to take immediate action to protect nail and beauty salon workers across New York. The legislation comes in the wake of an extensive investigation by The New York Times into working conditions at New York City nail and beauty salons, revealing a litany of abhorrent labor practices.

Assembly Member Kim’s and Senator Hoylman’s legislation would amend the General Business Law, permitting the Secretary of State to shut down unlicensed salons. This would allow for swift action to crack down on salon work sites that are operating illegally with little oversight.

The bill would also authorize the Department of State to register trainees in the practice of nail specialty. An apprenticeship trainee program would provide a critical new path to employment in lieu of prohibitively high cost education programs.

Assembly Member Ron Kim said: “I'm proud to join Senator Brad Holyman as we work together to find sustainable solutions to the complex situation surrounding the nail salon industry in New York City. We must spend more time addressing the most vulnerable part of the industry: the easily exploitable, predominantly female, workforce. Similar to many other service based industries, bad operators take advantage of the time when workers are being trained and certified for their positions. Our legislation will help empower this workforce by making it much easier for them to become certified technicians while allowing the state to shut down those stores that are exploiting our workers.”

State Senator Brad Hoylman said: “The recently uncovered plight of New York’s salon workers demands bold and immediate steps to seek justice for employees. This is a personal issue for my constituents since so many of them patronize the hundreds of nail salons in my district, but up to now may have been unaware of the abusive labor practices taking place and hidden in plain sight. I commend Governor Cuomo for creating a task force to investigate these issues and supporting Assembly Member Kim’s and my legislation, which will be critical to ensuring his administration can follow through on its efforts.“

The numerous workplace hazards and violations documented in the investigation by The New York Times include inadequate ventilation, lack of personal protective equipment, non-payment of wages, nonexistent worker’s compensation coverage, missing business liability insurance, and the unlicensed operation of facilities.

In May, Governor Cuomo’s office announced the establishment of a multi-agency Enforcement Task Force that would work to curb these practices and bring beauty and nail salons into compliance with the law.

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