In an attempt to curtail exploitation of workers in the nail salon industry, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Aug. 10 that those shop owners are now required to secure a wage bond or else face fines and penalties.
Nail salon owners will have 60 days to purchase the bond ”“ the size of which will depend on the number of full-time workers ”“ which will be enforced by the Department of State to ensure that workers are paid what they are owed.
“We will not stand for the exploitation of workers in the state of New York, plain and simple,” Cuomo said. “This administration will not tolerate abuse in any industry ”“ it’s simply not who New York is ”“ and today we are taking another step forward to protect the dignity and rights of nail salon employees across the state.”
Wage bonds are more commonly used in industries like construction or businesses that are more likely to fail as a way to guarantee employees are paid for hours worked.
This heightened effort to add provisions to the nail salon industry follows a series of articles published in The New York Times in May that highlighted the systemic exploitation of workers, mainly in New York City.
In May, the governor announced the Nail Salon Task Force to lead a multi-pronged effort to reform the nail salon industry in the state. The efforts have included statutory, regulatory and administrative changes.
Nail salon businesses that don”™t secure the bond before Oct. 6 of this year may be forced to close and pay fines.
