On Friday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo came up with a consumer-focused effort to regulate New York’s nail-salon industry.

He wants that customers should be the first line of defense against nail salons that abuse their workers. Cuomo unveiled about a new public-education campaign and its aim will be to encourage customers at nail salons to ask questions about how workers are treated.

As a part of the campaign, state officials will use social media and a new website. These platforms will be used to distribute pocket cards having the ‘Top Five Things to Ask When Entering a Nail Salon’

The governor said that proposed legislation is to empower the Department of State, having authority to license salons and workers, to keep a check on the industry. Workers will also be given an opportunity to undertake an apprentice program while applying for their license.

A workers’ ‘bill of rights’ have also been introduced that salons will be required to post. Posters will also be having a hotline number. “You MUST be paid for EVERY hour you work including overtime, even if you are paid on ‘commission’ or are not experienced”, said Cuomo.

Things that an employer is banned from doing include-

• Denying you meal break.

• Punishing you in any way for complaining about wages or working conditions.

The posters having a notice printed in red reading ‘These are your rights regardless of immigration status’ will be printed in 10 different languages, including Chinese and Korean.
Cuomo asked the public to demand better worker conditions at the salons.

If a nail salon is not licensed and is even abusing the workers then do not go to that nail salon. The measures were prompted after a New York Times investigation into nail salons and circumstances amongst the staff.