NEW YORK – Nail salon workers and their allies in the New York Healthy Nail Salons Coalition joined New York State Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Harry Bronson in introducing the Nail Salon Minimum Standards Council Act. The first of its kind in the United States, the legislation (bill numbers forthcoming), would create a nail salon industry council made up of workers, employers, and government officials. The council will have broad powers to establish new workplace standards for all nail salons in New York, including on issues such as wages, scheduling, paid time off, and training. After completion of investigations, hearings, and consultation with experts, the council would submit a report with final recommendations for minimum standards to the New York State Labor Commissioner.

The NY nail salon industry came under national scrutiny in 2015 when nail salon workers who were organizing to improve working conditions caught the public’s attention and won the NY Nail Salon Workers’ Bill of Rights, the first-ever bill specific to the industry that requires nail salons to meet certain safety requirements and pay proper wages. Nail salon work is overwhelmingly performed by immigrant women of color. Nail technicians (i.e., manicurists and pedicurists) make up the vast majority of New York’s nail salon industry workforce, with 85% identifying as women. Among these workers, 73% identify as Asian or Pacific Islander, and 21% identify as Latinx.

“This bill is the culmination of years of work with our nail salon worker member leaders, our partners and legislative champions as a step towards a more equitable nail salon industry,” said Pabitra Khati Benjamin, Executive Director of Adhikaar. “Passing the Nail Salon Minimum Standards Council Act would mean that nail salon workers, quite literally, will have a seat at the table, with employers and the state to improve their conditions. Nail salons are a bedrock of economic mobility for so many Asian immigrants, including the Nepali-speaking community. It is in the vested interest of all that this industry survives and thrives. Adhikaar’s 1,300 nail salon worker membership base is excited to introduce this bill with Senator Ramos and Assemblymember Bronson today.”

Read more: https://adhikaar.org/2022/01/26/4364/

#NewCoSponsorAlert

Thank you @sarahhartclark for standing up to protect worker rights! And helping to build a different kind of Nail Salon industry that will center the #HealthDignitySafety of all #AllHandsIn pic.twitter.com/s85ibbWqUD

— Adhikaar (@adhikaar) March 17, 2022