By Harinder Mahil

Toronto’s mayor, John Tory, has formally apologized to Sikhs for the latest policy that required Sikh security guards to shave their beards to wear N-95 masks or take lower-paying jobs. The mayor apologized for any delay in addressing this issue and ensuring security contractors were offering religious accommodations.

According to media reports the City of Toronto had recently instituted a “clean shave” requirement for all security guards on city sites resulting in the exclusion of Sikh security guards who maintain uncut hair as a tenet of their faith. As a result, over 100 Sikh security guards had been fired from their jobs.

It is known throughout the world that Sikhs cannot be forced to choose between their jobs and a key tenet of their faith. Somehow the City of Toronto was not aware of this important issue despite the factthat hundreds of thousands of Sikhs live and work in the City.

It is strange that Sikhs, whoserved as security guardsand other front-line positions not only in Toronto but throughout the country during the pandemic, would be asked to shavetheir beards to retain their jobs after the pandemic.

Sikhs are army officers, not only in India but also in the UK, US, Canada and many other countries. They serve as police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses and other front-line workers in many jurisdictions. It is unbelievable that they could be asked to shave off their beards while providing security services to some nursing homes.

The change of policy took place when the issue became public in the national media. The city is now blaming it on the third-party contractors that provide security services at city sites. The city has now agreed to allow for under-mask beard covers as religious accommodation.

The policy change comes after the city called on its contractors to “immediately” reinstate Sikh security staff fired over the rule. The city adds the guards who were terminated “should be appropriately compensated for any financial impact.”The city also said it would weigh the possibility of terminating the contracts of companies “found to be in violation of city policy or human rights legislation”.

This incident should serve as notice to other employers that they cannot violate human rights not only of Sikhs but others as well. Allemployers and service providers are required to comply with human rights legislation and accommodate theiremployees.

Harinder Mahil is a community activist and President of the West Coast Coalition Against Racism (WCCAR).