File photo of a child model.
(ECNS) - Authorities in Binjiang District of Hangzhou City, one of the most popular tourist destinations in China, have introduced a new regulation to protect the rights of child models, after a video of a mother kicking her three-year-old daughter during a photo shoot went viral last month.
The People's Procuratorate, the Market Supervision Administration, and the local Communist Youth League committee in Binjiang District jointly rolled out the policy, the first of its kind in China.
The regulation outlines the work scope for child models as well as the legal responsibilities of producers and guardians. It said child models will not work as child labor; their rights, such as the right to education, must be guaranteed; and their physical and mental development must be respected.
More specifically, the regulation said minors under 10 years old may not endorse products in advertising; they will not work for more than four hours straight on any one day or work for an entire week; the clothing they wear must be age-appropriate and in good taste; and they must be protected against verbal or physical abuse.
Law enforcement officials will conduct regular checks of the industry and those responsible for activities that infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of minors will face charges, said Chen Yungao, the head of the Binjiang District People’s Procuratorate.
Binjiang District, which is home to the headquarters of Alibaba, is quickly becoming a hub of the e-commerce industry, and there are many photography studios and child models located there. Last month, a mother was caught kicking her daughter while she posed for a fashion shoot at a studio in Binjiang. The incident sparked further debate about China’s already controversial child modeling industry.
