Masriadi, Lhokseumawe – Lhokseumawe Mayor Suaidi Yahyais has asked to all cafe, restaurant, hotel and internet cafe owners in the city to limit working hours for women employees to 11 o’clock at night.
This request on working hours for women, which was sent out in the form of a circular to all cafe, restaurant, hotel and internet cafe managers in the city, was dated January 6, 2020.
“The circular was to remind cafe managers to follow existing regulations. This is an old regulation, issued in 2014. But, there are establishments still violating it”, Yahyais told Kompas on Saturday January 11.
Yahyais said that the prohibition is part of a qanun (bylaw), namely Aceh Provincial Regulation Number 8/2014 on the Principals of Islamic Law and Aceh Gubernatorial Instruction Number 01/INSTR/2014 on the Control of Cafes and Internet Services in Aceh.
Yahyais is asking that workers, particularly women workers, only work until 11pm at night.
“Business owners must comply with this. If they don’t comply, we will prosecute them in accordance with regulations, starting with a warning to closing down the business establishment”, he said.
In the circular sent to business owners, Yahyais also asked all employers to comply with the regulations on entertainment establishments which must be in accordance with syariat (Islamic) law and cease all consumer activities during maghrib (sunset prayers) and Friday prayers.
Business owners must also provide mushala (prayer rooms) with supporting facilities, workers must wear Islamic clothing (covering their aurat, parts of woman’s body should not be seen in public) and install bright, not dim lighting, in their establishments.
“So this is an old regulation. We reiterate and are warning all business people to remember there is a regulation about this. Don’t pretend you don’t know about the regulations, this is what I’m reiterating, the Lhokseumawe municipal government will take action if they do not comply with the regulation”, he explained.
Copies of the document were sent to the Lhokseumawe regional police chief, the head of the Lhokseumawe Public Order Agency and the Wilayatul Hisbah (Islamic, religious police), the Lhokseumawe Chairperson of the Aceh Traditional Council (MAA), the chairperson of the Lhokseumawe Ulema Consultative Council (assembly of religious leaders in Aceh) and the Lhokseumawe Islamic Law Office.
“Monitoring whether or not business owners follow the document I have sent out is in the hands of Public Order Agency officials and the Wilayatul Hisbah. If there is still undisciplined businesses we will act firmly”, he said in conclusion.
It is known that there are many women workers in cafes, restaurants, hotels and other businesses in Lhokseumawe which still work until 10 and 11 pm at night.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Pekerja Wanita Hanya Boleh Bekerja hingga Pukul 21.00 WIB di Aceh”.]
