As Australia looks poised to introduce further lockdown measures in a fight to stop the spread of the coronavirus, businesses are closing across the nation, leaving tens of thousands out of work.
Stage two of the lockdown measures have kept essential services open, including barbershops and hair salons.
The government on Thursday recommended that hairdressers and barbers maintain a buffer of four-square metres per person, minimise personal contact during appointments and allow just 30 minutes for each customer.
However, some hairdressers and barbers say it may be impossible to comply with such measures due to the nature of their work.
Salim Ghrli opened his barbershop in Perth two years ago. He tells SBS Arabic24 that he is struggling to keep up with the government’s advice.
“I want to take the measure advised by the government. I went to buy a mask and gloves and I didn’t find any. Luckily a customer who is a dentist brought me a box of each,” he says.
“No one contacted us to say what are the measures we should take. I talk to other barbers and I search online. I have learned you need to wear a mask and gloves, wash your hands for 20 seconds, but you can’t keep away from the customer.
Salim Ghrli in his shop with customers Source: Supplied
“You cannot keep 1.5 metres away from someone that you are working on their beard or hair, even if you are wearing protective gear.”
Mr Ghrli says he started a new booking system where he gives himself half an hour after each appointment to disinfect everything in his shop.
“You change the mask and gloves, and you try to disinfect your tools,” he explains.
“You hardly can find any disinfectant, and not everything can be disinfected, and I don’t know how to disinfect all of it.”
He has been trying to do his best throughout the past few weeks, but he is afraid his efforts are not enough.
Salim Ghrli with players from the Perth Glory soccer team. Source: Supplied
“There is still close contact with customers, I am afraid of catching the virus and giving it to my family. I have two kids and a wife, and I don’t want to infect them.
“I am afraid I can carry it from customer to customer as well.”
He is not the only person in the industry with concerns.
Sandy Chong from the Australian Hairdressing Council described the decision to keep barbershops and hairdressers open as “outrageous”.
"It's outrageous because all of our hairdressers’ and our barbers’ health and safety is at risk," she says.
"It must be decided that our businesses have the right to close.”
Closing will not be easy for Mr Ghrli, but he is prepared to do so.
“I don’t want to contribute to the rising rate of infections. Shut us down.
“I have reached a point where I wish they would close us.
“This is better than me being open and posing a risk to my customers, myself, and my family.”
Originally from Syria, the 31-year-old came to Australian in 2013.
He began learning how to cut hair at the age of 13 and has worked in Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.
He met his wife, who is of Palestinian origin, in Damascus and they got married.
His wife was resettled in Australia and he followed as her partner.
“When I first arrived, I wasn’t allowed to work as a visitor, this continued for seven months,” he says.
“My first year was hard, I barely knew any English, and I was on Centrelink benefits.
“I did some casual work until I managed to open my shop two years ago.
“As soon as I got the loan to open my store, I went to Centrelink and I said thank you, you helped me a lot. I worked for a year and seven months for seven days a week, to pay back my debt and build a reputation.”
His business has been a success ever since. Among his regular customers are members of the A-League side Perth Glory.
However, he is afraid if he closes his shop without a government decree, he may not receive rental support from the government and will lose the business he worked so hard to build.
“If the government told us to close, it is clear, they will come up with some support arrangements, but for us, it is not clear what we should do regarding paying rent.
“When the [building] owner knew I am still working, he came to my shop the same day to discuss the rent payments.
“It costs me $3,000 a month to run the business. I already laid off the only worker I had and there are fewer customers. I might have to give the owner the key to the shop and go home and wait for the crisis to end and then see if I can get the shop back after this ends.”
