HINDU AIRPORT WORKER SACKED FOR WEARING NOSE STUD
London, 18 September 2007 (IANS)

An Indian-origin woman employee at the VIP lounge of British Airways at Heathrow airport has been dismissed from her job for refusing to remove the traditional Hindu nose stud. The woman employee, Amrit Lalji, 43, refused to remove the stud while working for Eurest, a company that supplies food and services at British Airways' VIP lounge. She was sacked from her job following a disciplinary hearing last week.

A spokesman for the Hindu Council UK said: "It is as integral a part of the Hindu wedding ceremony as the giving of a wedding ring is within a Christian marriage.

"These marks are not just the outward symbol of marriage - traditionally they are believed to help ensure the match is harmonious. If the company concerned allows wedding bands, we don't see why she can't wear a tiny nose stud."

An Eurest spokesman said: "Mrs Lalji had been advised of company policy on a number of occasions which states that, with the exception of a plain wedding ring and sleeper earrings, jewellery must not be worn on duty and flesh piercings are not permitted.

"Jewellery can harbour bacteria, create a hazard when working with machinery and find its way into food. Her decision not to return to work without the stud contravenes company regulations and she was dismissed."

Lalji, who lives in Stanmore, north-west London, has three children, and is married to Devji, 47, a carpenter. Her job paid her 280 pounds per week. She said after being dismissed that it will now be a struggle for her and her husband to support their family. Hoping to appeal against the decision to dismiss her, Lalji told newspersons: "I am extremely upset by this and feel that I am being discriminated against. I had always made it clear that I wear it as part of my Hindu faith.

"I'm not expecting people to make huge exceptions for me and I could understand if I was wearing a massive stud but this is a tiny pin. It was so small it was almost impossible to see.

"I was completely happy to wear all the uniform. I'm just asking for a little bit of tolerance and common sense over me wearing a nose stud. I don't know what's going to happen. It's a very anxious time for me and my family."

Lalji is being supported by the GMB union, whose official Tahir Bhatti said: "The company always knew she would not remove the nose stud and clearly had no problem with this until a manager complained."

In 2006, British Airways suspended check-in worker Nadia for wearing a Christian cross but she was later reinstated following condemnation by clerics and politicians.

ABOUT THE NOSE STUD

Many Hindu women have their nose pierced and fitted with a stud for their wedding as part of the Shringar ritual. This ritual bestows sixteen different 'marks of a married woman' on the bride; other marks include the Bindi, the red dot on her forehead, the wearing of a Mungal Sutra, or wedding necklace and Sindur, putting vermillion in the hair parting. These marks are not just the outward symbol of marriage - traditionally they are believed to help ensure the match is harmonious.

Shringar is as integral a part of the Hindu wedding ceremony as the giving of a wedding ring is within a Christian marriage. Brides who choose to have their nose actually pierced and wear a stud for their wedding (it is not compulsory and many choose to wear a temporary clip on stud for their ceremonies) will want to continue to wear it as a sign of their married status.