KUALA LUMPUR: Haircuts and hairdressing services are likely to cost more than before due to additional expenses incurred in implementing new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Malaysian Hairdressing Groups Association's spokesman Bambang Sutrisno Soteto said a suggestion to raise the fee between RM5 and RM10 for each customer was discussed among seven member groups at a recent association meeting.
"It was unanimously agreed after taking into account the additional cost we would incur for the use of disposable kits for each customer. The increase in service charge is still relevantly minimum because owners and operators have to take into account the number of customers allowed and other SOPs which must be complied with at salons.
"Our focus at the moment is not about profit, but the fact that we can finally resume business," he said.
The seven groups - Malaysian Hairdressing Association (MHA), Bumiputera Hairdressing Association (BUHA), Bumiputera Barbers Association (MBBA), Hairdressing Skills Development Association (HSDA), Malaysian Indian Hairdressing Association (MIHASS), Malaysian Indian Hair Dressing Salon Owners Association (Mindas) and Federal Territories Indian Hairstylists' Association (PJRISWP) - had agreed to comply with the government's requirements and will reopen their salons in stages from Wednesday.
Earlier today, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision to allow barbers and hair salon operators to resume was due to the long halt in operations and the sector's contribution to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), which is RM13.5 billion a year.
He said among the SOPs that must be adhered to include the use of face shields and disposable aprons by employees.
MBBA president Winda Mohd Tahir urged all barbershop owners and operators to display the new charges for their services to inform their customers of the new pricing.
"We can guarantee that the SOPs set by the government will be adhered to, for all our services. We hope our customers are aware of the new requirements before going to their barbershops and hair salons.
"Many people are looking forward to have their haircuts and we hope they can co-operate by adhering to the SOPs. Together, we can stop the spread of Covid-19," he said.
Meanwhile, Hair Salon Owners Association Chairman A.K. Selvan thanked the government and all parties for their efforts to allow the sector to resume.
"We have been struggling for the past two months as we did not have any income. We were pressured to pay bills. Some of us were even pressured to pay at least 10 per cent of the premises' rent or we'd have to pack up and leave.
"We believe the SOPs decided by the government is the best, as they prioritise the workers and customers' health. They have been fair in deciding to practice the SOPs and raising the charges."
Selvan felt that the option to increase charges will help ease the financial burden shouldered by owners, as they have to get safety equipment to operate during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
"We will use face shields, face masks and hand gloves. We have decided for our workers to use one pair of gloves for each customer. This way we will minimise skin-to-skin contact."
Malaysian Hairstylist Association founder Billy Lim heaved a sigh of relief.
"The approval is good for us as our source of income has been frozen for so long. All salon owners and staff have been adhering to the MCO and CMCO, so they should be healthy and free from the virus. This means they are able to work.
"I believe it is very safe for us to work as the government has all the data concerning any new virus clusters," said Lim, who is president of Mondiale Coiffure (International) Malaysia.
He said hairdressers will attend to customers on appointment basis, and two workers will be in charge of washing hair, cutting, colouring, doing hair treatment and blowdrying.
"Each worker will handle one customer at each time. We will also adhere to the 2m distance rule.
"We have always prioritised hygiene and cleanliness, such as washing our hands each time we are done working with a customer. The only thing left to do is sanitising chairs, if the SOPs require us to," he said.