AFTER more than two months of closure due to Covid-19, barbers and hairdressers are hopeful Putrajaya will give them the green light to resume business, with conditions, after June 9, various groups representing the sector said.

Professional Hairdressing Skills Development Association president Khaljaksa Amin told The Malaysian Insight the matter was discussed in a meeting between government officials and hairdressing associations on Wednesday.

“The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) has promised to announce a decision on June 9.

“We have also received a reply letter from Miti and our letter has reached the prime minister. We are awaiting this June 9 for the announcement,” he said.

Khaljaksa added that the meeting also discussed guidelines prohibiting children under 12 and customers over the age of 80 from being served at barbershops and hair salons.

The Selangor and Federal Territories Indian Hairstylists’ Association is also confident that Putrajaya will allow them to operate after June 9, when the conditional movement control order (CMCO) ends.

“Yes we are waiting. Barbershop owners are already aware of the guidelines and we understand the safety measures too.

“Right now, we are waiting for the government to give the go-ahead and we will be ready,” he said.

Among other guidelines, Akilan said barbers must record customers’ details, take temperature readings, always use a face mask and gloves, and also require customers to wear face masks.

Barbers and hair salons have been closed since the MCO began on March 18, more than 70 days ago.

The CMCO, which began on May 4 and allowed more economic sectors to reopen, did not include barbershops and hair salons.

Not all barbers and salons

Malaysian Indian Hairstylist Empowerment Association (Mihass) president Mohd Jaafar Salim Thamby said he believes there is a good chance the government will allow them to operate once the CMCO is over.

“As a result of the last meeting, we are almost 70% certain that the shops will be allowed to operate again.

“The SOP for barbershops has also been approved, we are just waiting for the approved supporting documents from the Health Ministry and the National Security Council,” he said. 

He said government officials had also expressed their concern for the sector, which employs some 100,000 people.

“The government also asked us for data on employees, hairdressers and barbers because at 100,000, that is a lot of people that can be at high risk (of Covid-19 exposure).

“The government has said that not all, maybe half will be allowed to operate. This means only those who are registered with recognised associations,” Jaafar said. 

Should they not be allowed to reopen, he said Putrajaya should come up with other solutions to help barbers and hairdressers, whom he said should also be considered as entrepreneurs.

“We do understand and know that there are risks, but as businessmen, our problem is that we have to pay rent.

“In my case, I have two shops and every month I have to allocate RM6,000 for rent. So if the government still doesn’t allow us to operate, I hope they have a solution to help us,” he said. – May 31, 2020.