THE Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) has defended its members’ policy of prohibiting their frontline staff from wearing the hijab, or headscarf, saying it is international practice and not meant to be discriminatory.

Cheah Swee Hee said the hotels, especially international hotels, in Malaysia, followed a standard operating procedure (SOP) and policy on the matter.

“We should not call it discrimination because these hotel companies have international policies to follow.

“It is a matter of policy and SOP which is used worldwide by all hotels. It is not about Islamophobia because this has been done from the beginning. They have their SOPs,” he told The Malaysian Insight when asked to respond to news reports on complaints from a non-governmental organisation that hotel staff were not allowed to wear the hijab at work.

The Malaysian Labour Centre of the Union Network International (Uni-MLC) recently said hotel employees had complained about discrimination against Muslim workers who were told to remove their headscarves. The centre said this was also happening to hospitality and tourism students applying for internships.

The International Women’s Alliance for Family Institution and Quality Education (Wafiq) has also urged female workers to report such cases.

Wafiq said there was no plausible explanation that the headscarf was a hindrance to work.

“Being in the private sector does not exempt one from having to respect the right of others to practise their religion.

“We question the need for such a restriction in Malaysia where Muslims make up the majority of citizens. This also reflects poorly on a company’s diversity and equality policy,” Wafiq said.

It added that women workers or students in such situations did not find it easy to lodge reports as their jobs or internships were at stake.

Cheah acknowledged that hotels in Malaysia did not allow workers in frontline jobs such as receptionists or servers to wear the headscarf, but he said he had no data on the matter.

He said it was not a big problem, however, as the hotels offered many other positions.

“I’ve told students to find the type of work that allows you to wear the ‘tudung’. There are also hotels that accepts workers who wear the ‘tudung’ in frontline roles,” he said.

Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Shamsuddin Bardan is against the policy on headscarves as it discriminates against Muslim women.

“Whatever policies made by international companies should take into account local sensitivities.

“I do not agree with the situation and if this happens, I think the employee can lodge a complaint with the authorities who must then take appropriate action,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Shamsudin added that workers who feel discriminated against must speak up as MEF could only advise the employers.

“We have advised our members to respect religious sensitivities and the needs of workers according to their customs.

“But ultimately it is up to the individual to lodge a complaint with the authorities because the MEF does not have the power to take action against our members,” he said.

Wafiq, meanwhile, wants the Human Resource Ministry to address the matters.

Wafiq president Associate Professor Dr Rafidah Hanim Mokhtar said the NGO has received four direct complaints while her personal Facebook page has received dozens of grouses .

“Since we have many universities producing graduates in hospitality and tourism, it’s kind of a setback to have international hotels having (such) standards.

“It’s discriminatory against our citizens in terms of employment and training.  I’ll have to work with the respective ministries, such as higher education and tourism (on this matter),” she told The Malaysian Insight in a WhatsApp message.

Syukri, a hotel banquet manager in Kuala Lumpur said the hijab policy had been in place for at least 10 years.

“At a five-star hotel in KL where I once worked, Muslim female staff were not allowed to wear the headscarf so as to attract customers.

“If a woman wanted a job as a waitress, she could not wear a scarf. It was considered unfashionable and unattractive,” said Syukri who did not want to give his full name.

As he was in charge of hiring temporary workers for big functions, he had to tell recruits that they could not wear the headscarf. He said the policy consistently applied to those working in food and beverage, such as servers, and in frontline positions, such as receptionists.

Syukri left the five-star hotel three years ago and found another job at a hotel that did not have such a policy.

“I moved to another hotel because I did not want to be a part of that kind of practice,” the 39-year-old said.

Farisha, who has worked for a year as a receptionist at a five-star hotel in Putrajaya, said she removed her headscarf whenever she went to work

“To be a receptionist at this hotel, you can’t wear the ‘tudung’. They say that this is in line with the image of an international hotel.

“So after I finish work, I will put it back on. I just don’t wear it at work. What else can I do? It is not easy to find a job now,” said the 29-year-old. – November 11, 2017.