KUALA LUMPUR: Barbers are appealing to the government to allow them to employ foreign workers.
They are claiming that they could go out of business soon as they are losing out to foreigners, who are running similar businesses illegally with the help of their countrymen.
Kuala Lumpur Hair Salon Cooperative Bhd chairman A.K. Selvan said many barbers had lost more than 80 per cent of their workers since a freeze was imposed on the recruitment of foreign workers in the industry.
“The last time (the intake of foreign workers) was in 2011, when we got a special approval through the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry to bring in 1,000 workers.
“After that, the intake was frozen. We are struggling to survive in the industry. Almost 70 to 80 per cent of our workers have either returned to their home countries, or run away from work.
“We have submitted a request to the Home and the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism ministries, but have yet to receive any reply,” said Selvan, who is the former Malaysian Indian Hair Dressing Salon Owners Association president.
Selvan said he hoped the government would consider allowing the recruitment of 2,000 foreign workers in the industry because locals were not keen on working in the sector.
“In 2015, the government gave a RM1.2 million grant to train 100 Indian youths from the B40 income group. We have trained 97 students. I even employed four of them.
“However, after working for six months, they left to set up their own businesses. Now, they are also in need of workers.”
Another barber, Simon Rajah, 37, said a significant number of local barbers had been forced out of business due to a lack of manpower.
“These immigrants are tarnishing our good name as not only are they running unsanitary operations, they are also creating unhealthy and unfair competition in the industry.
“Their illegal setups allow them to offer cheap services to attract customers.
“Their prices are lower because they don’t have to pay taxes. There is no way we can compete with their pricing.”
He said he had been forced to close down three of his outlets.
M. Mugelan, 30, said he was a good paymaster until one of his shops in Seremban was forced to close due to a shortage of workers.
“Now, I have only two shops and I have been struggling to keep my business afloat since 2014.
“I can no longer pay bills and workers on time, and I had to close down one of my shops to cut losses.
“I have also tried looking for local workers, but failed.”