New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is set to sign into law a new bill to protect the city’s freelance workers. The first of its kind in the country, The Freelance Isn’t Free Act creates harsh penalties for employers who delay or deny payment to freelancers and sets a strict window within which they must be paid. Employers will now have a 30-day window after services are rendered (or another greed upon date) to make payment in full. Employers must provide a written contact for projects involving $800 or more. Employers found in breach of the law will be required to double damages, plus are responsible for attorney fees. They are prohibited from retaliating against the freelancers who enforce their labor rights.

A 2015 report from the Freelancers Union found that more than 70% of freelancers in New York have had problems receiving payment.