Petty rules and retulations
Tuesday, 8th May 2012
Letter to London local newspapers
Dear Sir/Madam,
Along with some British hairdressers, I am concerned about a new proposal between Coiffure EU, a group of European salon bosses, and UNI Europa, a trade union representing European hairdressers. The proposal would ban hair stylists from wearing wedding rings and watches on the grounds that they might be "unhygienic". It also insists on the wearing of non-slip shoes which could prevented stylists from wearing shoes with heels and limit the number of haircuts a stylist could do in one day to prevent "emotional collapses".
It also seeks to promote "effective social dialogue at the workplace". Officials at the Department of Work and Pensions are said to be questioning whether that refers to formal discussion between managers and employees - or simply the opportunity to chat to colleagues and customers.
My Conservative colleagues and I will argue strongly against this unnecessary interference in people's free choices at work. While we all want to visit clean and safe hairdressers and barbers shops, British people like to use their own common sense rather than be dictated to by petty rules and regulations.
Yours sincerely
Syed Kamall
Conservative MEP for London