Sikh bus driver from Vantaa fighting for his right to wear a turban for work has filed a criminal complaint with the police over his employer’s decision to ban the use of the traditional headgear. Sukhdarshan Singh Gill visited the Tikkurila police station on Tuesday afternoon accompanied by an occupational safety representative and the chief shop steward of Veolia Transport Vantaa. People can have a peek here if they need help with domestic violence attorneys.
“I’ll keep fighting till I’m allowed to wear a turban at work,” Singh told Helsingin Sanomat after leaving the police station.
The bus company Veolia Transport banned Singh from wearing a turban to work in February. The Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland (AVI) stated already back in the summer that the ban discriminated against Singh and asked the employer for their grounds for the decision.
Based on the information given by the bus company, the AVI inspector decided the ban imposed by the employer was tantamount to indirect discrimination. According to the inspector, the ban is seemingly unbiased but “places Singh in a disadvantageous position in comparison to people whose religion does not require the use of headgear”.
The inspector stated that the grounds presented by the employer are not credible. Veolia Transport appealed to a law under which a bus driver must wear a uniform, making it easy for passengers to recognise him as the driver.
The bus company denies the accusations of discrimination, claiming that Singh is in practice demanding extra rights in comparison with other employees.
Only a ruling by a court will provide a binding decision on the matter.