Beard ban leads to hairy dispute

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)