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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Airport worker sacked over stud | Airport worker sacked over stud |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Heathrow Airport worker has been dismissed for wearing a nose stud. | A Heathrow Airport worker has been dismissed for wearing a nose stud. |
| Amrit Lalji, 40, of Stanmore, north-west London, who works for caterers Eurest, said she wore the tiny piercing as a mark of her Hindu faith. | Amrit Lalji, 40, of Stanmore, north-west London, who works for caterers Eurest, said she wore the tiny piercing as a mark of her Hindu faith. |
| She had worn the stud at work for more than a year until a manager told her to remove it but she refused and was suspended and subsequently sacked. | She had worn the stud at work for more than a year until a manager told her to remove it but she refused and was suspended and subsequently sacked. |
| Eurest said for health and safety reasons jewellery and piercings were not allowed at work. | Eurest said for health and safety reasons jewellery and piercings were not allowed at work. |
| Work hazard | Work hazard |
| Mrs Lalji said she produced a letter from her local Hindu community to support her case. | Mrs Lalji said she produced a letter from her local Hindu community to support her case. |
| "I feel I am being discriminated against," she said. "It is only a tiny stud and I wear it as part of my Hindu faith." | "I feel I am being discriminated against," she said. "It is only a tiny stud and I wear it as part of my Hindu faith." |
| Ms Lalji's union, GMB, said it will hold talks with her employer to have her reinstated immediately. | Ms Lalji's union, GMB, said it will hold talks with her employer to have her reinstated immediately. |
| Union 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." | Union 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." |
| A statement by Eurest said Mrs Lalji had been advised of company policy "on a number of occasions" . | A statement by Eurest said Mrs Lalji had been advised of company policy "on a number of occasions" . |
| "Jewellery can harbour bacteria, create a hazard when working with machinery and find its way into the food people eat," it said. | "Jewellery can harbour bacteria, create a hazard when working with machinery and find its way into the food people eat," it said. |
| "Mrs Lalji's decision not to return to work without the nose stud contravenes company rules and regulations and she was dismissed." | "Mrs Lalji's decision not to return to work without the nose stud contravenes company rules and regulations and she was dismissed." |
| Last year, Heathrow worker Nadia Eweida was suspended by British Airways for wearing a Christian cross but later reinstated following condemnation by clerics and politicians. |