The proposal would create labor protections for the fashion industry

Advocates are pushing for labor protections for the fashion and modeling industry as Wednesday marked the last day of New York Fashion Week.

Models, influencers, stylists, makeup artists and other creative artists are pushing for lawmakers to pass the Fashion Workers Act to create regulations for talent and management companies.

“It shouldn’t be a luxury to work in the fashion industry,” said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Brad Hoylman. “This is hard work that needs to be compensated in a fair and responsible way.”

If signed into law, the legislation would force companies to accept legal responsibility for acting in the best interests of their hired talent, provide proper notification about contract renewals, copies of agreements, and would require agencies to cap commission rates at 20% of a model’s salary.

Many companies require models to put down money up front before moving to the city to work.

Models and other creative talent often have multi-year exclusive contracts or work visas with management companies that are not required to find them jobs or pay them on time.

“It’s normal to wait six months to get paid for a job, or even to get hired for a job, and not know if you’re being paid or how much,” said Sara Ziff, founder and CEO of Model Alliance. .

Current state labor law allows management companies to evade licensing or regulation, allowing them to control the booking of jobs and the pay rate of a talent. The legal loophole often leaves fashion industry workers in debt and makes young people in the industry prime targets for financial and other abuses.

If the bill becomes law, models, photographers and other talent must be paid no more than 45 days after completing a job.

The bill was introduced this session and nearly passed both houses of the Legislature, but lawmakers ran out of time for a final vote.

The law would also prohibit management companies from retaliating against a model or employee who files a complaint and prohibit companies from discrimination and harassment.

“People are afraid to take a chance and talk about these issues because they’re afraid their agencies will cut them off and not pay them,” said Tony Kim, a fashion photographer in his 20s. “There is actually a strong relationship between the agency and the clients and the money that goes through.”

Kim pointed out that no other industry allows such treatment of its contracted talent, and fashion workers want the same job protections that benefit employees in other industries.

The state Department of Labor and the state Attorney General’s office would force businesses to comply with the new rules, imposing penalties or other consequences, if the Fashion Workers Act becomes law.

Ziff, a former model who has worked as the face of brands including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Stella McCartney, said her peers share similar stories about the glamorous, unregulated industry.

“There’s something really empowering about realizing we can change this. It doesn’t have to be that way. We can. We love our industry. We just want it to be better and people to be treated fairly.”

Kaja Sokola, a former supermodel who worked in the industry for almost two decades, was first hired at the age of 14. She says the legislation would help transform the fashion industry and prevent a series of financial and other abuses that often befall young women in the field. .

“It’s supposed to be a business, but I never felt like a business partner [with agencies]”he said Wednesday. “They don’t treat you the same.”

Sokola recounted how she blamed herself for the alleged abuse she suffered from convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein. She publicly accused the former American film producer of sexually assaulting her in her Soho apartment when she was 16, which could make her her youngest victim. Sokola, originally from Poland, is now 35 years old.

“When you meet a teenager who doesn’t know anything about life, with these older, rich men who are predators, they’re basically hunting young girls,” she said.

New York has long been a leader in the global fashion industry, and models and other talent hope the state will also lead the way in creating long-overdue protections for workers. Fashion workers say it could have a ripple effect for reform across the country and beyond.

“Families could feel more secure sending their young daughters and sons through this industry,” Sokola said. “The industry wouldn’t leave a shell of a person at the age of 25 because that’s what’s happening to a lot of young women… As it is, it’s really like sucking out a person’s soul and leaving a shell behind.” empty”.

Source: spectrumlocalnews.com