Australia looks into allowing Sikhs to wear turban at work

Melbourne: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard today promised to look into allowing Sikhs to wear turbans at work places and also while riding a motorcycle.

"We will work with your community to help make the necessary changes requested on cultural and religious grounds," Gillard assured Australian Sikh Association members in a closed door meeting at a Gurdwara in Glenwood, a suburb of Sydney.

The Association members also asked her to look into allowing Sikhs to wear their six-inch sword into government departments on official functions and to introduce a school policy differentiating Sikh children from other religion.

Gurdwara Trustee spokesman Balvinder Singh Chahal said countries like Britain and Canada had already allowed Sikh civil engineers and workers to wear their turbans instead of hard hats at work sites and while riding motor cycles.

He said their turbans were found to offer good protection in several studies.

"I also would like to point out that the Punjabi language and Sikh religion were the fastest growing language and faith group - at the rate of 205 per cent from 2006 to 2011, according to recent census," he was quoted as saying by the 'Blacktown Sun' daily.

"We would also like to seek the inclusion of the Punjabi language and history in the national curriculum in schools especially in western Sydney.

"We also request more liberal entry of international students especially from India to help the country to meet its skilled and less skilled labour needs."

According to Greenway MP Michelle Rowland, it was the first visit by an Australian Prime Minister to a Gurdwara, the biggest in the country and in the southern hemisphere.

Gurdwara trustees led by chairman Davinder Singh Jitla and Gurdwara president Amarjit Singh Girn presented a painting of the Golden Temple to Gillard and a USD 10,000 cheque for Westmead Hospital.

Last month, Queensland became the fourth Australian province to exempt cyclists from the Sikh community from wearing a helmet. Queensland joined Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia which also have this exemption.