The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Posted: 15 Nov 2011 05:24 AM PST With reference to the report "Scarred beauty" carried by StarMetro on Nov 14, it is obvious that there is always some danger in beauty treatments, and I hope that those seeking these services realise it, as otherwise they are asking for trouble. Based on the statistics provided by the authorities, many people are seeking such treatments. I strongly urge the public to think twice before seeking beauty treatment from unauthorised centres, as it can cause you more harm than good. It is sad that this billion-dollar wellness industry remains one of the least regulated by the authorities. It should be well monitored and with adequate laws to give adequate protection to consumers. Based on the feedback from some customers, there is cheating, overcharging and botched jobs resulting in permanent disfigurements. It is refreshing that the Health Ministry is introducing guidelines next month on the do's and don'ts for the beauty industry, particularly involving invasive procedures. It seems these days the pressure to look perfect is causing many people to turn to cosmetic surgery for a quick fix. A little too often, that quick fix turns into a nip and tuck or multiple rounds of extreme surgery resulting in a complete evolution. Sometimes plastic surgery can make us feel better about ourselves, however at other times people take it too far. If not carried out properly, plastic surgery can lead to scarring, weird deformities, infections. In some cases, there is a need to re-do the area with more plastic surgery causing even greater damage. People should be more careful and not become so gullible and become easy targets of these unscrupulous operators. BULBIR SINGH Seremban Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| The law seems to bend towards illegal spas Posted: 15 Nov 2011 05:24 AM PST THIS is in reference to the article 'Rubbing Residents The Wrong Way' in StarMetro on Nov 4. Almost nine years ago, a group of us genuine spa owners formed an association with objectives to self-regulate, strengthen and grow the Malaysian spa industry. The Association of Malaysian Spas (AMSPA) membership regulations require our members to have a valid operating licence, to follow statutory regulations in our set-up and if we require foreign therapists, to hire only qualified ones who have proper work visas. Members are also required to have proper Standard Operating Procedure and training manuals. They must also provide all treatments required by international standards to qualify as spas. Sadly, over the years, our members have faced numerous challenges in operating our spas despite a sincere effort to operate within the law. Spas are required to pay many times more for operating licences besides having to pass various inspections to get one. This often cause expensive delays to opening of our businesses. But the toughest process by far is getting work visas for our badly required foreign therapists. It is not by choice that we hire foreign therapists. We do so simply because we do not have enough local therapists to work our industry. Work permits for foreign therapists have been frozen for more than a year now with no solution in sight. I liken this to switching off the oxygen supply of a dying patient, snuffing out whatever life left. Many of us have downsized, closed or will be closing our spas soon due to the severe manpower shortage. A genuine spa therapist is a skilled professional so to expect spas to absorb illegals from other industry involved in the amnesty programme is not a solution. Illegal workers from a plantation, a restaurant or a factory do not have the skills to serve as spa therapists. We intend to protect the integrity of our industry by hiring only qualified and experienced therapists and we should be allowed to do so. The Tourism Ministry now has a rating system in place for spas similar to hotel rating, Most, if not all of our members, fall within the three, four and five star spa categories. Yet we are treated no differently than the illegal spas and massage parlours that are mushrooming all over the city. Is this fair and just? It is most shocking to be told by the enforcement authorities that these illegal spas cannot be forced to stop their operations but can can only be compounded for not having a licence! What about the illegals they hire? Surely they can be arrested and deported. How did they enter the country in the first place? Yet proper applications for qualified therapists by genuine spas like ourselves are not entertained The message coming across is that it is easier and more lucrative being illegal than legal. With such a negative image, the spa industry continues to have difficulty attracting local human resource, which means the need for foreign therapists will remain a vicious cycle. Given the difficult and unfair treatment of genuine, licensed and rated spas, is it any wonder that the growing number of illegal spas outnumber the genuine ones? Something needs to be done before illegal spas take over the industry all together. DATIN RAMONA SULEIMAN AMSPA Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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