Beard ban leads to hairy dispute

BANDUNG, West Java (JP): About 2,000 workers from three textile factories in Cimahi went on strike Monday to press their demand that male employees be allowed to grow beards and mustaches, reports said yesterday.

The strike began at 6 a.m. and ended inconclusively at 4 p.m. The firms' executives promised to refer the problem to their Japanese customers who, according to them, may stop buying their product if they learn that the employees have facial hair.

The day-long work stoppage that mixed laughter and tension crippled Himitex Mitra Jaya, PT Mikiko Garmenindo Industry and PT Seribu Satu. They are located in the same estate.

The talks were mediated by the local manpower office and security officials. The workers' delegate insisted that the rule was "absurd and against the male nature."

But executives maintained that the ban was vital for the survival of their companies because Japanese, the main buyers of their products, don't like to import goods from factories whose workers have facial hair.

"We don't want to see the company go bankrupt only because some workers have beards," PT Himitex president director Hindarta Sanjaya was quoted by Merdeka daily as telling the workers.

"But I think beards and mustaches should be no problem so long as they are neatly trimmed like the gentleman's there at the back," a manpower official said pointing at the workers' delegate. (pan)