A woman can also be a barber's client (TAS 259/2016, issued on 14 September 2017)

The Ombudsman for Equality was asked to determine whether a barber shop has acted in accordance with the Act on Equality between Women and Men when refusing to serve a female client. The barber shop had maintained that it only provides services for men for reasons related to privacy and modesty.

The Act on Equality between Women and Men does not prohibit the provision of separate barber and hairdressers' services. Entrepreneurs in the hairstyling industry can provide services according to their business concept, vocational skills and available tools. An entrepreneur in the hairstyling industry can therefore specialize and only provide barber's services. However, the Ombudsman for Equality addressed that barbers and hairdressers cannot select their clients on the basis of their gender.

The Ombudsman for Equality stated that the privacy and modesty related reasons presented by the barber shop did not apply to hair care related services. The Act on Equality between Women and Men determines that entrepreneurs in the hairstyling industry must provide services to both women and men. For this reason, a woman can also be a barber's client.  When refusing to provide services to a female client, the barber shop acted contrary to the Act on Equality between Women and Men.

11.12.2017