This ‘Project’ was initiated by PAMM, or known also as Persatuan Anggun Menawan Malaysia. It is an association established to protect the rights of business owners in the haircare, cosmetic surgery, manicure, skincare, industry and other beauty practitioners and a platform for education, exchange of ideas and information, negotiations and communication.
During the coronavirus outbreak, many companies in this line were relatively small companies with limited resources and fortitude, and it was quite impossible for anyone to expect a strong resilience from them to outlast the pandemic. For that, PAMM led by its chairman Alvin Loh and its board of committees decided to take action to help these unfortunate people and their families to overcome this adversity.
The ‘project’, or more appropriately described as the ‘initiative’, was first started in the second week of April. It has a single purpose, which is to help the industry practitioners sustain their family and cost of living by getting their businesses started again after being forced to shut down for quite a while during Movement Control Order.
PAMM then met up and eventually joined forces with AICA (Association of International Certified Aesthetician) to find out the reason behind the impediment of business recommencement, and thus fight for the welfare and livelihood of these people. Under careful study, analysis and reference of S.O.Ps from various countries all over the world, they had devised a Business Recommencement Proposal and presented to the Prime Minister’s Department (Jabatan Perdana Menteri).
Before presenting the proposal, these two associations had conducted a survey on the practitioners and players in the Beauty & Aesthetic industry through the utilization of Google Form, to gather their feedbacks on the challenges they faced, and subsequently to convey the actual and truthful condition to the government. The survey was conducted on a total of 3000 people, 46.1% felt that they could only sustain about 1 month if not allowed to resume business, 46.6 reckoned 1 to 3 months, while only 7.3 estimated that they could last more than 3 months.
From May until June, PAMM had conducted as many as 24 documented meetings to discuss the methods of creating the said SOP, along with the strategy to deal with governmental affairs and how to effectively obtain approvals.
PROJECT RESULT
The Project was initiated with crystal clear purposes, which are to revive the beauty and aesthetic industry, regain its confidence amidst the pandemic attack which officially shut down the entire industry for several months during the MCO lockdown, allow them to resume business, and finally to restore their welfare and livelihood. And we succeeded.
As a result, PAMM together with AICA, managed to create the SOP. Thanks to the help of IPEC, we managed to connect and present to all the related government sectors such as MITI, Standard Malaysia, MOH, and the Prime Minister’s Department. Most importantly, we have managed to get the related departments and authorities to sit down, review, deliberate, approve, and then allow businesses in the beauty and aesthetic industry to resume under conditions and supervision. On top of that, our effort has resulted in obtaining of the Letter of Approval by MITI, who has officially accepted our SOP.
PAMM has our full set of SOP, which included the correct procedures to ensure cleanliness, proper disinfection, preventive measures, operating hours, social distancing, the do’s and don’ts, all included in a proper set of presentation slides, and distributed to all the practitioners in the beauty and aesthetic field. To qualify oneself, the business owner has to make a video of its company complying to and practicing all SOPs accordingly, and then send the video to PAMM to review. If everything in the video is correct and properly followed, PAMM shall approve and issue a certificate to the business owner qualifying his business/ company to reopen and continue business.
WHAT IMPACT HAS THIS PROJECT CREATED IN THE COMMUNITY/ NATION?
The Project was initiated with crystal clear purposes, which are to revive the beauty and aesthetic industry, regain its confidence amidst the pandemic attack which officially shut down the entire industry for several months during the MCO lockdown, allow them to resume business, and finally to restore their welfare and livelihood. And we succeeded.
As a result, PAMM together with AICA, managed to create the SOP. Thanks to the help of IPEC, we managed to connect and present to all the related government sectors such as MITI, Standard Malaysia, MOH, and the Prime Minister’s Department. Most importantly, we have managed to get the related departments and authorities to sit down, review, deliberate, approve, and then allow businesses in the beauty and aesthetic industry to resume under conditions and supervision. On top of that, our effort has resulted in obtaining of the Letter of Approval by MITI, who has officially accepted our SOP.
PAMM has our full set of SOP, which included the correct procedures to ensure cleanliness, proper disinfection, preventive measures, operating hours, social distancing, the do’s and don’ts, all included in a proper set of presentation slides, and distributed to all the practitioners in the beauty and aesthetic field. To qualify oneself, the business owner has to make a video of its company complying to and practicing all SOPs accordingly, and then send the video to PAMM to review. If everything in the video is correct and properly followed, PAMM shall approve and issue a certificate to the business owner qualifying his business/ company to reopen and continue business.
HOW WAS THIS PROJECT HELP TO ADVANCE THE CHOSEN SDG?
It is so important that Beauty is widely known and accepted as one of the few ‘recession-proof’ industries. There are so many practitioners in the industry of beauty, hair, nail, and make up, etc. If not for the project, there would perhaps still be a big question mark as when these businesses would be allowed to resume. Even if they had already been, there could have been already a huge and damaging impact on this industry and its people. Just imagine how many beauty related companies would shutter if this was not accomplished.
Without a doubt, other industries would also be affected in a chain reaction. Just think of how many people’s lives were at stake that we are talking about. The impact it has towards the Malaysian economy would be unimaginably frightful. The success of this project has enhanced the safety protocols in the face of the pandemic, and revived the industry effectively and the country’s economy specifically and holistically.
The “Recommencement & Reinvigorating of The Beauty Industry Against Covid19” project has reinstated decent work and promoted economic growth, helping to advance the chosen SDG.
THE TAGLINE FOR UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (UNSDGs) IS “LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND.” PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW YOUR PROJECT HELPS TO REALIZE THE COMMITMENT OF UNSDGS FOR THE FUTURE. HIGHLIGHT ANY OTHER SDG(s) THAT YOUR PROJECT HAS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY CREATED POSITIVE IMPACT TO PEOPLE AND SOCIETY
PAMM is an NGO established to help its members in the beauty and aesthetic industry, creating more value for them in all aspects, from within the association to beyond, protecting their rights as business owners and providing a platform for education, exchange of ideas and information, negotiations and communication.
The project was targeted to help every practitioner and industry player, without prejudice nor favoritism. Our objectives are for them to resume their business as quickly as possible, to secure their livelihood, to allow them to operate with proper amidst the pandemic, to safeguard their customers’ health and wellbeing, and to give them clarity in murky waters. We were all inclusive in advancing the industry and strongly promoted sustainable development, never undermining the potential of any individuals and of humanity as a whole. We were unequivocal in our commitments, and we are extremely proud to declare that we have left no one behind.
Concurrently, our project has directly or indirectly created positive impact to people and society by promoting good health and wellbeing, fulfilling Goal Number 3 in UNSDG.
