A so-called “clean shave” policy for workers at shelters and gathering places in Toronto has been changed after some Sikh security guards reportedly lost their jobs for refusing to shave their beards.
An official from the World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada confirmed the change to CP24 on Tuesday afternoon.
This comes after approximately 100 Sikh security guards hired by third parties were fired, transferred or had their shifts canceled for failure to follow a city policy that required some employees to be clean-shaven to be properly fitted for N95 respirators.
“We received a call from Mayor Tory and he confirmed that the guards can return to their jobs and the city will work with the security contractors to make that possible. He also confirmed that N95 will only be required when there is an outbreak,” Balpreet Singh, WSO spokesperson and legal advisor, told CP24.
Balpreet Singh of the World Sikh Organization of Canada is calling on the City of Toronto to reinstate bearded security guards who were fired over a “clean shave” masking policy.
READ MORE: Toronto to review ‘clean shave’ N95 mask policy after Sikh workers fired and demoted
“There is only one such place, and there a latex or fabric cover can be used to cover the beard. This is indeed what we originally proposed.
The city policy previously applied to homeless services workers who came into contact with clients suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, as well as in settings where there is a suspected or declared outbreak of the virus.
Singh had written a letter to Mayor John Tory and City Council members calling attention to the policy’s possible discriminatory effects on June 7.
However, weeks passed without any action being taken.
After several media reports on Monday, the city formally ordered its contractors to comply with its human rights and anti-harassment/discrimination policy and to provide fair conditions for its employees with religious exemptions.
Mayor John Tory also told reporters earlier on Tuesday that he would like to see the contractors involved – ASP Security Services, Garda World and Star Security – apologize.
“(These workers) deserve better than this. … There is always accommodation,” he said.
Among those affected by the interpretation of the policy was Birkawal Singh Anand, who was hired last spring to work as a security guard at a local recreation center. Birkawal Singh Anand, a contract security guard who works at a recreation center in Toronto, said he was recently told to shave after the mandatory N95 mask could not be properly fitted because of his beard. Anand is a Sikh and according to his faith he should not cut or shave his hair or beard.
During a July 4 interview with CTV Toronto, he said he recently received an email from his employer, ASP Security Services, telling him to shave off his beard or lose his job.
“Everyone’s freedom of speech and human rights are protected. For me, if I can’t follow my religion, it’s a disgusting thing, isn’t it,” said Anand, who likened shaving his facial hair to “skin peeling”.
To make matters worse, Anand said the accommodation offered to him by his employer, ASP Security Services, amounted to both a demotion and a reduction in salary.
He called the situation both “embarrassing and humiliating.”
ASP told CTV Toronto that they have tried to find accommodation for the affected workers.
Two other security companies that also have contracts with the city, Garda World and Star Security, did not comment on the matter.
Speaking to CTV Toronto late this afternoon, Anand said Tori called him and apologized for what happened. He said the mayor also promised that “everything will be back to normal.”
“This means he will restore all Sikh guards to their same positions and the same pay,” he said.
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