RIYADH: The Riyadh municipality will launch a 10-day campaign on Saturday to raise awareness among barbers and their customers about the importance of cleanliness.
“We are launching this campaign for the second year in succession for 25,000 barbers working in 8,000 salons due to innocent customers contracting diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis, skin diseases as well as suffering from head lice when unsanitary instruments are used,” the Riyadh municipality’s general manager for the Environmental Health Department, Soliman Al-Buthi, told Arab News on Friday.
He explained that barbers were given training on how to wear facemasks and handle disposable razors and aprons. “It is their turn to follow these guidelines in their own interests.” The municipality will commission 40 officers to conduct inspections of the salons in the capital.
Barbers and hairdressers who violate regulations will face fines ranging from SR500 to SR2,000, he added. People are encouraged to call 940 to report violations or breach of local regulations.
“Any form of massage, health treatment and laser therapy are not allowed inside the salon,” the official said, adding that the rearing of animals such as cats and birds inside barber shops are also strictly prohibited.
“Even serving tea or coffee inside these shops are not allowed. He pointed out that 99 percent of the barbers are from Pakistan, Turkey, India, the Philippines and Lebanon.
Public health workers directly supervised by the municipality will also be required to obtain employment certificates yearly or biannually from the Health Department.
