London: Indian loses airport job for wearing nose stud

SHE NOSE NOT THE RULES: Amrit Lalji says she would have never taken up the job if she knew of the rule.

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London: Amrit Lalji could never imagine that her faith could cost her job some day.

The 40-year-old, who worked in the British Airway's VIP lounge at Heathrow Airport has been sacked for refusing to remove her nose pin.

For her, the nose pin is a religious symbol of her marriage. But her employers, Eurest UK, who manage the BA lounge, say it breaches their dress code.

Lalji has been working with the same company since March 2006 and the issue was not brought up at the time.

“They didn't tell me when I joined. Had I known, I would never have joined. Some girls working with me took it out because they were scared of losing their job,” she says.

Eurest initiated disciplinary hearing against her when she refused to take off the nose pin. In a statement the company says: Ms Lalji had been advised of company policy which states that jewellery may not be worn whilst on duty. Jewellery can harbour bacteria, create a hazard when working with machinery and find its way into the food people eat.

Lalji's union GMB has now taken up the case.

“This has nothing to do with food or machinery. I think they are not fully aware of where she works. She works with customer services. It’s got nothing with food or machinery,” says GMB organiser, Tahir Bhatti.

Lalji has now filed an appeal and is even willing to go to the industrial tribunal to get her job back.

The incident almost comes as a déjà vu. Last year, another Heathrow worker Nadia Eweida was suspended by British Airways for wearing a crucifix but was reinstated after protests from unions, politicians and clerics.