PETALING JAYA: Jeyabalan Parichit, 60, used to run 18 barbershops, with 45 workers from India. Now, he only has three shops with five workers.
Times are getting really hard for Indian barbershop owners, as they lose their workers because of government regulations and are not able to have them replaced.
“Many times, there is only one worker in a shop. And even they will be gone by early next year,” said Jayabalan, whose three branches are in Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur and Kajang.
“If I can’t renew their working permits, some of them will go home by November this year, and the others in January and February next year,” said Jeyabalan, a second-generation owner of the barbershop. He has been in the business for 40 years.
Most of his workers are from India and the only way to get workers is through visa, but despite having the workers, he cannot get the visa approval.
The government has ceased temporary work passes for foreign workers from June 15. This could cause around 4,000 foreign barbers to be repatriated, spelling the end for many traditional Indian barbershops.
It will have a huge impact on many Malaysians who depend on these barbershops for affordable haircuts.
The end of school holidays often see long queues at these barbershops as parents bring their children for a quick and affordable haircut before the school session begins.
A father of two, Selva, 37, said haircuts at these barbershops are much more affordable compared to salons.
“My two sons and I can have our haircuts for less than RM50. The waiting time is also not too long,” he said.
If the barbershops close, he said he may resort to cutting his children’s hair himself.
This is also the case for project manager Khalil Yaakob, 38, who has many friends who bring their kids for a RM12 or RM15 haircut at the barbershop.
“For families with many children, these barbershops are vital. Imagine having to pay RM25 per child for a monthly or bi-monthly haircut. If the parent has four kids, that will be RM100 in total.
“There is a huge price difference. Many can only afford barbershop prices,” he said.
Khalil himself keeps a bald head, and maintains it every month. As a loyal customer, Khalil only pays RM10 for his haircut. At a salon, prices start at RM25.
Wastewater pollution control company owner Loi Hang Kuang, 56, said he has been going to the barbershops for decades.
“I get a haircut and a shave for around RM15. Barber prices have actually increased after the pandemic. Before that, I could get a haircut, hair wash, shave and even a face mask for RM15.
“At a salon, I would have to pay at least RM20 for a haircut alone. If we lose these Indian barbers, the salons are likely to increase their prices too,” he said.
Marketing manager, Joel Nelson, 48, said the barber he goes to knows the exact hairstyle he wants and it costs only RM15 to RM20 for a cut and shave.
“It will be difficult to find a replacement,” he said.
Executive Fawwaz Fadzlullah, 25, has been going to barbershops since he was a boy and is saddened that the government is no longer renewing their permits.
“Indian barbers are very skilled. They are an asset to the country and, honestly, very few Malaysians can fill this role.”
