KUCHING: It has been announced that barbers and hair salon operators will be charging their customers RM5 for protective gear and safety equipment used during their haircuts.

Kuching Hairdressers Association (KHA) president, Raymond Chin, said the association had suggested the move or standard operating procedure (SOP) as it was important to keep their workers and customers safe.

“The protective gear includes capes for customers. This is a preventive measure during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. We want a new cape for every customer. None can be reused,” he told New Sarawak Tribune when contacted on Sunday.

He said the RM5 charge was fair because barber shops and hair salons had to pay for other expenses such as face masks, face shields, gloves, and sanitisers for hands as well as the whole shop.

“We have consulted the mayor of Kuching City South Council (MBKS) and this matter was also brought to the attention of the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).

“The green light was given to us to implement the RM5 charge. We hope our members, other barber shops and hair salons would adhere to this because this is to keep everyone safe.
“It is not about making profit as the fees for haircutting will still be the same. The RM5 is just for buying the protective gear or equipment,” he said.

However, he said, he would not force his members to implement the charge. He was only encouraging them to look at it as a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the safety of everyone involved.

“Most barbers and hair salons have lost revenue since the MCO first started on March 18. Imagine operators charging RM10 for each haircut while buying protective gear for their customers. We hope the public would understand our situation,” he said.

As announced, barber shops and hair salons in the state will resume business on Tuesday, but limited to haircutting only.

On the other hand, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Saturday said that barbers and hair salon operators were allowed to reopen from June 10. They can provide services such as haircutting including basic hair wash, shaving, makeup, hair treatment, manicure, pedicure and facial treatment.

Chin said the association would wait for SDMC’s official announcement on whether or not other services besides hair cutting would be allowed in Sarawak.