Legislative action complements report Ting secured through state budget process
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Legislature passed a bill authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) that would help immigrant nail salon workers and their employers understand labor laws.
Assembly Bill (AB) AB 2437 passed the Senate 26-13 last Wednesday and the Assembly today with a 54-25 vote. It now moves to Governor Jerry Brown for his signature or veto before the end of September.
“Nail salon workers are frequently underpaid, overworked, and misclassified as independent contractors,” said Ting. “We can overcome language barriers to help everyone comply with and benefit from the law through providing information about worker’s rights to nail salon workers and owners. By signing this bill into law, Governor Jerry Brown can help an industry that relies on our vibrant immigrant communities.”
Nail salon workers often do not know about workplace laws due to language and cultural barriers among both nail salon owners and employees. Those workers who are aware are often fearful of retaliation from their employer. AB 2437 would resolve these problems by requiring nail salons to post signage about basic labor rights in the language that salon workers can understand starting July 1, 2017. The notice will be developed by the California Labor Commissioner and must be posted in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean.
As part of this year’s state budget, Ting directed the Department of Industrial Relations to report to the Legislature by March 31, 2017 with key information to help ensure the successful implementation of AB 2437. The report will assess workplace labor issues in nail salons, knowledge of labor laws by salon owners and employees, frequency of labor law violations at nail salons, and opportunities to improve how a new sign could improve labor law compliance in nail salons.
According to Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the sponsor of Ting’s AB 2437, California has over 95,000 licensed nail salon employees at over 8,000 nail salons. Approximately 80% of nail salon owners and employees are Vietnamese immigrant women who often speak limited English.
“AB 2437 is important to ensure adequate training for employers and employees, which would cultivate a safe and healthy work environment for all employers, employees, and consumers within the nail salon industry,” said Andrew Medina, California Policy Manager for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-California, and Tracey Nguyen, Community Organizer for Community Heath for Asian Americans in a letter supporting Ting’s bill.
“More language accessible information for workers and owners on these issues will go a long way toward improving the working conditions for this predominately Vietnamese women worker community,” Catherine A. Porter, Policy Director for the California Health Nail Salon Collaborative.
Further information is available at www.leginfo.ca.gov.
CONTACT: Anthony Matthews, (916) 319-2019, Anthony.Matthews@asm.ca.gov