YNOT – One of the world’s largest adult entertainment companies has established an industry-wide fund to help performers defray the cost of pre-employment health screenings required by many studios.

Luxembourg-based Manwin, which owns studios including Digital Playground and Twistys in addition to operating websites and affiliate programs, started the Performer Subsidy Fund with an initial endowment of $50,000. Managing partner Fabian Thylmann said the company will contribute an additional $50,000 each month for an unspecified period. He invited other companies to chip in, too.

“This fund was conceptualized to alleviate some of the expenses and financial burden, performers may be facing due to occupational testing,” Thylmann said. “We’re grateful the [Free Speech Coalition] agreed to support this project and hope others in the industry will back it as well.”

The Performer Subsidy Fund will be administered by FSC, the American adult industry’s trade association, and monies will be available to all active adult performers who participate in the association’s Adult Production Health & Safety Services program. Performers need not be employed by Manwin in order to receive disbursements; membership in APHSS is free for performers.

Performers currently participating in the APHSS database system will be asked to submit a mailing address prior to the first round of subsidy disbursements, expected to take place in September. Performers who wish to participate in the September funding round must be signed up with APHSS by Aug. 31.

Monthly subsidies will be based on sexually transmitted infection tests for which APHSS received data during the previous month. All participating performers will receive an as-yet-to-be-determined standard amount per test reported by any APHSS-approved clinic.

According to FSC Executive Director Diane Duke, individual subsidy payments may vary from month to month, as the fund will divide each month’s total stipend (Manwin’s monthly donation, plus any other funds contributed by others) by the number of tests reported during the previous month. Some months typically see more productions — and consequently more tests — than others. In any case, Duke said, no one will be reimbursed more than the average cost of an industry standard performer test panel, which is $120.

Surplus funds, if any, will be banked in a special account for use in case of an on-set HIV exposure incident, Duke said.

“One hundred percent of the funds contributed to the [Performer Subsidy Fund] will be designated to the performers and/or the emergency fund,” she noted.

Duke indicated Manwin’s endowment came as a pleasant surprise.

“When Manwin called and told me that they wanted to help all performers by subsidizing the cost of testing, we were thrilled,” she said. “They put up the funds, and we will implement the program.

“The program is open for other producers to contribute as well,” she added. “The more money that comes in, the more we will be able to send to performers.”

Manwin’s generosity follows a recent policy change at the company. While the industry standard is to require a new health screening every 28 days, on July 1 Manwin began requiring performers to present new test results every 14 days.

Performers are not required to adhere to Manwin’s testing schedule or accept work from Manwin in order to receive disbursements from the Performer Subsidy Fund.

Duke also said Manwin will provide a separate endowment to FSC to cover administration costs of the fund. She did not reveal the amount of the additional donation.

For more information about the Performer Subsidy Fund, [email=joanne@freespeechcoalition.com]email Joanne Cachapero[/email] or call 818-348-9373.