London: Indian loses airport job for wearing nose stud
Published on Wed, Sep 19, 2007 at 08:31, Updated on Thu, Sep 20, 2007 at 02:20 in World section
Tags: London, Heathrow Airport , London

![]() |


Related Stories
HC bars security forces from leaving Shopian
Dehradun cops accused of killing man to win medals
CPI-M may decide feuding Kerala leaders' fate
CM helpless, admits Maoists extort Rs 300 cr annually
Bandh call by Hindu outfit gets mixed response in Mysore
Time for Mamata to walk the Budget talk 
Mamata's Budget Express | Mamata Exclusive | Rail Budget
Top bosses fly high as AI struggles to survive 
10 years of Kargil, heroes recall the war | Pay Tribute 
Cabinet split over order legalising homosexuality 
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.
| Ads by Google |
| Related Ads: | |















Read Comment | Post Comment
Even if your observation about most Indians at Heathrow engaged in cleaning tiolets is astute; I would say that the
Read Comment
why cant people be tolerant and obey local laws and rules? If you cant obey the rules, why be in
Read Comment
Wow! She wants to live there but not follow their rules and regulations! I am sure when she had joined
Read Comment
Why is she complaining? Indian Airlines or other indian airline companies are ready to hire in India. Is she willing
Read Comment
I dont know from which part of the country ur from, if u come to south India and in western
Read Comment
Read more comment »