New York State and federal officials on Friday reached out to Chinese-language media outlets in the city to explain new labor and health requirements for nail salons and their workers that have been put in place as a result of a newspaper's investigative report about poor working conditions at the salons.

A spokesman for the governor's office said the press briefing was held because many of the employees at the salons are Chinese and Chinese-language media have not been aggressive in their coverage of the new rules.

Representatives from New York State's departments of Labor, Health and State explained at the briefing attended by five Chinese media organizations the licensing, hygienic, health and wage requirements that have taken effect since June 15, and those that will take effect once a bill with more regulations is signed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The bill is expected to be signed this week.

Among new rules in effect are health regulations that require salon owners to provide personal protective equipment to nail salon workers, such as respirator masks that prevent the inhalation of dust particles, non-permeable gloves that protect the skin from harsh chemicals, and goggles that prevent chemical fumes from entering a worker's eyes.

"All the new regulations and all the statutes that go into effect, there's not a tremendous cost increase here. There are some masks and some gloves and goggles, and no other piece (of regulation) has a cost increase," said James Rogers, deputy commissioner for worker protection at the state's Labor department.

The state's Health department is also seeking to regulate ventilation in salons to ensure that they provide healthy indoor air quality for all workers who may be exposed to potentially harmful chemicals found in nail products.

In May, a series of investigative stories by The New York Times showed the poor working conditions of nail salon workers, including no overtime pay, pay that was far less than the minimum wage and unhealthy conditions as a result of long-time exposure to chemicals in nail polishes and related nail supplies.

The report prompted New York state officials to pass emergency legislation that required stricter regulation of nail salons in the city. State authorities were given the authority to shut down unlicensed nail salons, and to fine those operating without a bond or liability insurance.

The State and Labor departments also require that a worker's bill of rights be posted prominently in a nail salon. It says that all workers must be paid minimum wage for every hour worked, including overtime, even for those paid on commission or those who are inexperienced. The signs say that workers receiving tips have to make at least $6.60 every hour for the first 40 hours per week, and those who do not make tips need to be paid at least $8.75 per hour for the first 40 hours.

"Department of Labor investigates complaints of unpaid or underpaid wages all the time, and we do a comprehensive investigation where we interview workers. We interview business owners, we look at business records, and working with both the workers and employers, we come to a determination that the wages were either paid correctly or incorrectly."

amyhe@chinadailyusa.com