Beard ban leads to hairy dispute<\/p>\n
BANDUNG, West Java (JP): About 2,000 workers from three
\ntextile factories in Cimahi went on strike Monday to press their
\ndemand that male employees be allowed to grow beards and
\nmustaches, reports said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The strike began at 6 a.m. and ended inconclusively at 4 p.m.
\nThe firms' executives promised to refer the problem to their
\nJapanese customers who, according to them, may stop buying their
\nproduct if they learn that the employees have facial hair.<\/p>\n
The day-long work stoppage that mixed laughter and tension
\ncrippled Himitex Mitra Jaya, PT Mikiko Garmenindo Industry and PT
\nSeribu Satu. They are located in the same estate.<\/p>\n
The talks were mediated by the local manpower office and
\nsecurity officials. The workers' delegate insisted that the rule
\nwas \"absurd and against the male nature.\"<\/p>\n
But executives maintained that the ban was vital for the
\nsurvival of their companies because Japanese, the main buyers of
\ntheir products, don't like to import goods from factories whose
\nworkers have facial hair.<\/p>\n
\"We don't want to see the company go bankrupt only because
\nsome workers have beards,\" PT Himitex president director Hindarta
\nSanjaya was quoted by Merdeka daily as telling the workers.<\/p>\n
\"But I think beards and mustaches should be no problem so long
\nas they are neatly trimmed like the gentleman's there at the
\nback,\" a manpower official said pointing at the workers'
\ndelegate. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/beard-ban-leads-to-hairy-dispute-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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