CHILD models in New York - that is, those under the age of 16 - will now be afforded the same protection offered to other young performers, such as actors and singers. Coco Rocha joined Sara Ziff, founder and executive director of the Model Alliance, at a press conference yesterday to celebrate the development.
"Having once been a child model myself, I know all too well that, up until now, a large underage workforce has lived and worked under very little legal protection in twenty-first-century New York," Rocha said. "I'm so excited to see us make a huge step in the right direction, and I'm thrilled that I've been able to be a part of such a momentous moment which is sure to change the future of our industry for the better."
The law, which becomes effective on November 20, will ensure the following:
• A responsible person will be designated to monitor the activity and safety of each child performer under the age of 16 in the workplace.
• Employers must provide a nurse with paediatric experience as well as health-and-safety information.
• An education requirement decrees that employers must provide teachers and a dedicated space for instruction.
• A financial trust must be established by a child model's parent or guardian into which an employer must transfer at least 15 per cent of the child's gross earnings.
"This is a major step for minors, made possible by the convergence of two social trends," said Susan Scafidi, founder and academic director of the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham Law School. "Concern over children's welfare, and the increased recognition of fashion as an art form - thus models as performers."
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