(Adds names of salons, more details from lawsuit, name of case)
NEW YORK, May 14 (Reuters) - Two New York City manicurists on Thursday filed a proposed class action lawsuit claiming four nail salons routinely violated minimum wage and overtime laws, days after a New York Times investigation revealed rampant wage theft and hazardous conditions in the industry.
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan says employees at the salons, which have the same owners and are all on Manhattan's Upper East Side, are paid $60 or less for 10-hour shifts and often denied breaks.
The lawsuit said the salons - Nailsway, Naulo Nails, Nailsmetic and Nailscure - violated New York's minimum wage law and a federal law requiring time-and-a-half pay for overtime as well as meal and rest breaks.
One of the owners of the salons, Surya Gurang, did not respond to a request for comment.
The New York Times over the last week has published a series of articles that say nail salon owners routinely exploit employees, particularly immigrants, paying them as little as $30 a day and failing to provide equipment or ventilation to safely deal with toxic chemicals.
Gregory Filosa, the lawyer who filed Thursday's lawsuit, said in an interview that his clients, Blanca Fernandez and Gloria Marca, approached him before the Times articles were published.
The minimum wage claims were filed on behalf of anyone who worked at the salons over the last six years, while the overtime and break claims go back three years. Filosa said the minimum wage class would probably include more than 50 people.
In response to the Times articles, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said this week that he was creating a task force to investigate nail salons and establish new rules to protect manicurists from harmful chemicals.
Cuomo also said regulators would begin an education campaign, notifying workers of their rights in six different languages.
Filosa said the campaign could lead to a rise in lawsuits against nail salons as employees realize their bosses have been violating labor laws.
The case is Fernandez v. Nailsway Inc, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No. 15-cv-3710. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner; Editing by David Ingram, Bernadette Baum and Lisa Von Ahn)
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.