Metro

New law aims to protect underage models

Models under 18 will be subject to sweeping new state labor law protections under legislation quietly signed into law by Gov. Cuomo Monday night.

The new regulations could have a huge impact on February’s New York Fashion Week, where designers employ numerous under-aged catwalkers to show off their latest and hottest styles.

The legislation, sponsored by state Sens. Jeffrey Klein and Diane Savino, had been approved by lawmakers in June and was awaiting Cuomo’s signature.

Until now, models under 18 were not covered by the child-labor laws that govern other young performers, such as actors and actresses.

Among the new regulations on catwalkers:

  • Models cannot work earlier than 5 a.m. and no later than 10 p.m. on schools nights; and no later than 12:30 a.m. on non-school nights.
  • An adult must be in the room, at all times, with any model under 16.
  • The child’s parent and guardian must set up a trust fund, where employers will have to directly contribute at least 15% of gross earnings.
  • A nurse with a background in pediatrics has to be on hand at all times.
  • Employers have set aside time and space for their young models to do school work.
  • Parents or guardians must receive a detailed work schedule for days the young beauties work.

The look of New York Fashion Week could be getting a radical facelift because of these regulations, according to Sara Ziff, leader of the child-model advocacy group Model Alliance.

Ziff estimated that nearly half the models on the Fashion Week catwalk in recent years have been under 18.

“I think the number of models who are 18 on a [Fashion Week] runway are going to be few and far between,” Ziff said.

“I just think it’ll be much easier to hire an 18-year-old than a 15-year-old.”

Advocates for the new regulations said they’re not out to put young models out of business – but just want to make sure they’re protected.

“Most models begin their career around the age of 13, sacrificing their education, health and financial security to model without the basic protections they deserve under New York’s current law,” said Savino (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn).

“By making this legislation the law in New York, we have brought an end to the rampant exploitation and sexual abuse of child models by giving child models the critical protections they’ve been denied for too long.”