Sikh security guards ousted from city jobs over beards, organization says

Over 100 Sikh security guards have lost their positions at City of Toronto sites over a rule that requires them to be clean shaven, so they can wear N95 masks, the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) says.

WSO Legal Counsel Balpreet Singh said the private contractors that employed the guards told them that they were following city orders.

“The security companies are saying this is a City of Toronto rule,” Singh said Monday. “And some of them have been saying they’ve been penalized when inspectors have come to sites and found bearded security guards. And as a result, they essentially cracked down on all the Sikh security guards who have beards.”

While the guards were told they could ask for an exemption based on religious requirements, companies either moved them to lesser-paying positions or laid them off rather than deal with the city’s demands, he said.

Singh produced several examples of employer notices in confirmation of these actions.

Etobicoke resident Birkawal Singh Anand said he lost his security position at a city respite shelter after he was told he had to be clean shaven to wear a N95 mask — this despite offering to wear another kind of face covering and observing shelter residents and staff without masks.

It’s hard to believe a government would enforce this kind of decision in the 21st century and in Canada where human rights are protected, he said.

“I’m feeling humiliated because of the decision,” Anand added. “For me, if someone asks me to shave off my beard, it’s like someone asking… to peel off their skin.”

In a statement, the City of Toronto said that it had received a complaint from a few of its security guard contractors.

“The city is reviewing the complaint which alleges that certain contractors failed to accommodate their own employees in relation to the city’s Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) division’s requirement for the use of N-95 masks for all staff and contractors who may come into contact with any person who has or is suspected of having COVID-19,” the statement says. “SSHA’s policy requires that anyone who may have to use an N-95 mask must be clean shaven for fit testing.”

SSHA policy allows for accommodations and requests are assessed in accordance with the contractors’ own human right policies, the statement says.

All contractors who work with the city must make a declaration to confirm they are abiding with its Human Rights and Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Policy (HRAP), the statement says.

aartuso@postmedia.com