KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 — Any hotel that bars Muslim frontline workers from donning their headscarves should have their operating licences and permits revoked, Tan Sri Noh Omar said today.
The urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister said the purported hotel industry rule was unacceptable, according to the BH Online news portal.
Local councils come under his direct purview.
“I am telling all local authorities responsible for issuing hotel licences: if the complaints received are true, I recommend they withdraw the licences issued,” he was quoted as saying.
“Muslim women are obliged to wear the headscarves even if they work for international hotel chains; even as global entities, they (hotel operators) must be more rational.”
Yesterday, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz lashed out at the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) over the purported rule, calling it “imbecilic” and insensitive to local culture.
Nazri also demanded for the MAH to show him the alleged international hotel guidelines that ban frontline workers from wearing headscarves.
The issue arose after the Malaysian Labour Centre of the Union Network International said hotel employees have complained about discrimination against Muslim front desk workers who were told to remove their headscarves.
In response, the MAH reportedly defended the policy by saying it was consistent with international standards of operation.
