THE nail salon industry in Malaysia is pleased that the government has a National Recovery Plan, but it urgently seeks a review of the industry’s recent Phase 4 classification.
The industry is disappointed that pedicure and manicure services at nail salons are classified as a high-risk industry and can only be reopened in Phase 4.
Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob published a statement on June 27 in relation to industries that can reopen in Phases 2, 3, and 4.
We respect the government’s National Recovery Plan. However, we are not in the same category as a club or pub, as we provide professional and essential services to treat our clients.
For nail salons to be classified as Phase 4 requires an urgent review for the following reasons.
• Nail salons are Covid-19 safer than most other services allowed to reopen in Phase 2.
• Our standard operating procedures (SOPs) are of the highest standards
• Nail salon services are also health-related
• Nail salons mainly employ females who take care of families on their own
• Many nail salons will go out of business if they remain closed till November 2021
Nail salons are Covid-19 safer than most other services allowed to reopen in Phase 2
At a nail salon, we don't serve more than five customers per manicurist per day. The number of nail salon clients per day is much lower than other beauty services.
For pedicure services, we observe social distancing and remain one foot away from the clients. For manicure services, the manicurists are shielded by a divider on the manicure table. There is no touching of the head and face, or any contact with clients that requires the face mask to be removed. Therefore, it is inappropriate to classify the nail industry as a high-risk industry.
Furthermore, nail salons have not contributed to any clusters thus far in the pandemic.
Strict SOPs are followed
We sanitise both our employees’ hands and the customer's hands and feet before any session. This is to ensure the highest level of hygienic practice. This was part of our SOPs even before Covid-19. Since MCO 1.0, our industry has practised:
• Compulsory MySejahtera scanning
• Temperature checks
• Hands sanitising
• Face masks for both customers and manicurists
• Face shield for manicurists
• Disposable hand gloves for manicurists
• Disposable apron for manicurists
• Shield barrier in between customers and manicurist
• Seats sanitised for every customer
• Tools and sinks sanitised with industry standard disinfectants such as barbicide
• Large space area (no private rooms such as those for facials)
We are 100% committed to protecting our clients’ and employees’ health and safety.
Job losses for women as we cannot work from home
Manicurists and nail technicians are skilled professionals and salons mainly employ women, especially single mothers and young women working hard to earn a living to sustain themselves and their families.
We have only operated for two months since the beginning of 2021. Many nail salons and suppliers have either shut down or downsized since the first MCO.
If nail salons can only reopen in Phase 4, which is expected to be around November, more nail salons will not be able to pay rent, salaries, and other expenses.
We foresee many more nail salons being forced to close down even prior to November.
Unlike other industries, the nail salon industry cannot work from home until Phase 4.
There are more than 2,000 nail salons nationwide. If the whole industry perishes, there will be about 10,000 women out of jobs.
Nail care is not simply for aesthetics but also healthcare
Pregnant women need our services to take care of their nails and feet. As the tummy grows bigger, it becomes challenging to bend down to do a pedicure, which includes cutting nails, cleaning the cuticles and dead skin, and removing calluses.
Ingrown toenails are also something our industry deals with regularly, mainly caused by improper trimming of nails, inappropriate footwear, and pressure on the feet from sports activities.
Geriatric citizens often require extra attention for their nails due to age-related changes such as impaired circulation that will cause nail alterations or nail abnormalities. Diabetic patients also require special care of their nails to avoid risk of infection if they get into cuts or cracks from improper handling.
Other feet and nail-related issues include fungal nails, weak and broken nails, corns, calluses, and athlete’s foot.
Most of the above issues require immediate intervention to prevent a nail condition from worsening and eventually causing other problems in the body. The most common solution is often for the whole nail to be removed. Some clients are reluctant to do so and hence come to us for treatments and solutions that they might not get elsewhere.
We are not just about beautifying nails for styling purposes. Our job requires our manicurists to be skillful and knowledgeable regarding the cleaning, treating, and maintaining of nails.
This service is essential.
With these points in mind, we would like the government to engage with us and understand our industry better to find a more logical and just solution. Lastly, we welcome the Health Ministry to inspect our premises if this is necessary. If additional SOPs are required, we will gladly comply.
Like everyone in Malaysia, we want to play our role along with the government in controlling Covid-19 to ensure all Malaysians are safe and healthy. Please do not put a blanket ban on us. We are part of Malaysia, too. Thank you.
The Malaysia Association of Nail Industry was formed to represent nail salons and make their voices heard
