Jakarta hospital apologises for asking job applicants if they would remove hijab, as politicians call for probe

JAKARTA: A well-known private hospital in Jakarta has apologised and taken remedial action after being accused of religious discrimination, in a viral case which has sparked calls by local politicians for authorities to probe the matter as well.
Medistra Hospital in Kuningan, South Jakarta, caused a stir after a doctor asserted that it had asked job applicants whether they were willing to remove their hijab – a sensitive topic in Muslim-majority Indonesia.
The letter by the doctor at the hospital has been circulated widely on social media.
Dated Aug 29 and addressed to Medistra Hospital’s management, the document by Dr Diani Kartini, a specialist surgeon, alleged that prospective employees were required to remove their hijabs if hired. 
Dr Kartini revealed that her assistant, as well as her relative who had applied to be a general practitioner at the hospital, allegedly faced racially discriminatory questions during their job interviews – including whether they would be willing to remove their hijab.
“I am deeply disappointed that, in this day and age, such racially charged questions still occur. Medistra claims to uphold international standards, yet such racism persists,” Dr Kartini wrote in the letter, as confirmed by local news site Republika.
Dr Kartini compared Medistra’s policies unfavourably to those of other hospitals in South Jakarta, claiming that those healthcare institutions permit all medical staff to wear the hijab.
She further suggested that if Medistra caters to a particular demographic, this should be explicitly communicated to both employees and patients.
“It is very regrettable that during the interview, questions that I believe are racially discriminatory were raised. Are there double standards for dress codes for nurses, general practitioners, specialists, and subspecialists at Medistra Hospital?” Dr Kartini wrote.
Dr Kartini has since resigned from Medistra.   
Medistra Hospital’s director Dr Agung Budisatria expressed deep regret on Monday (Sep 2) and reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to offering equal employment opportunities. 
“The management has taken firm action by issuing warnings, providing training to the employees involved, and removing them from the interview team for prospective candidates at Medistra Hospital,” according to his official statement as quoted in local media.
The private hospital, which has been in operation since November 1991, is now conducting a comprehensive review of its hiring procedures to address and prevent such issues in the future. 
Local politicians have urged the authorities to investigate the matter.
Mr Achmad Yani, acting speaker of the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives, has called for the provincial health department to launch an urgent investigation.  
Mr Yani, who is from the conservative Islamist Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), condemned any policy that impedes an individual’s right to practice their religion, describing such actions as human rights violations. 
“Policies that restrict religious practices are unacceptable and must be addressed,” Mr Yani said in a statement to local news outlet Kumparan on Sunday (Sep 1).
Similarly, Ms Ima Mahdiah, a Jakarta councillor from the nationalist Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), emphasised on Sep 2 that religious attire should not be restricted, highlighting Indonesia’s recognition of multiple faiths.
She called for Indonesia’s health ministry to take decisive action if the allegations are substantiated.
“It is crucial to verify the existence of discriminatory policies. If confirmed, the Ministry of Health must enforce appropriate sanctions,” she said.