Ajman, October 27: Shops selling abayas and tailors who fail to strictly abide by the rules of Ajman Municipality and Planning Directorate (AMPD) are subject to a Dh20,000 fine.
The decision to penalise tailors who err was made following large number of complaints from ladies who said they can’t allow the tailor to take measurements of their bodies as it is against the religion. They added that when a used abaya was given, tailors got the figures wrong. Over charging is common among tailors, women complained
The decision to go strict on the rules was taken during a recent meeting between officials of the Department of Commercial Licence and 70 abaya shop owners.
Mohamed Ali Al Marzouki, director of the Commercial Licence Department said, “We have given abaya shops and tailors orders to prepare bills that should be given to their customers. The bill should clearly specify the day of handing over the abaya to the customers and that the specified date should never be later than two weeks. The bills will grant the customer two weeks duration to take the abaya from the shop otherwise the shop owner has the right to sell the abaya to other customers.”
Al Marzouki said, “Many tailors complained that some customers insist on late payment and this causes huge losses to their business. We are hoping that the owners and customers respect each other.”
Wisal Ahmed, a lady who regularly tailors abayas hoped that the penalty will hinder the greedy behaviour of abaya tailors who increase their selling price without any justified reason.
“I think the Civic body should streamline the selling price of abayas. We are falling prey to greedy traders who double the price. Any person visiting various abaya shops and tailors can clearly figure out how the price fluctuates from one shop to another.”
Rugia A Tawash, a housewife believes women can do a better job. “I can’t allow a male tailor to take my body measurements as it totally against our norms and tradition. I end up buying an abaya with a different design,” she said.
–Agencies