All 13 hotels in the peninsula with a standard operating procedure (SOP) that prohibited their Muslim frontline staff from donning a headscarf while on duty have agreed to retract the ruling.

Utusan Malaysia quoted Union Network International-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) president Mohammed Shafie BP Mammal as saying that the matter was confirmed by Labour Department Director-General Mohd Jeffry Joakim during a meeting in Putrajaya today.

“Alhamdulillah, the 13 hotels found to enforce the SOP that banned Muslim staff from wearing a headscarf have agreed to retract the ruling.

“Thank you to the government for listening to our complaints on this issue and (we) hope that stern action will be taken against hotel operators who still insist on enforcing the discriminatory law,” said Shafie.

UNI-MLC had first raised the issue sometime in November last year, citing complaints from its members.

This triggered an outcry from various Muslim groups, while Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim had described the move as a violation of women’s rights.

At the time, UNI-MLC also claimed that students in hospitality and tourism courses have been instructed to remove their headscarves before going for internships or risk not being hired.

Following this, the Malaysian Association of Hotels explained that some international hotels enforce a uniform policy for frontline staff.