THE EDITOR, Sir:

TVJ's evening news of Monday, September 10, 2012 featured the turnout of hundreds of young men from all over Jamaica to a recruiting centre in Kingston. They were jostling for 350 jobs as correctional officers.

The news item was significant as it again highlighted the difficulties being faced by young men in finding employment, and it also raised a concern about what I deem as discrimination.

There was a young man in the report who stated that he was denied an opportunity to get employment because his ears were pierced. How could this be in 2012? Are pierced ears indicative of competence?

All over the world there are calls for men and women to get equal treatment in employment. Are women denied opportunities for employment in the correctional or other uniformed service because their ears are pierced? I think not - as the lady who was justifying to the TVJ reporter why men with pierced ears could not be accepted in the correctional service was wearing earrings! Maybe I will hear that her ears are not pierced.

I am all right with men not wearing earrings in uniform and on the job, but to deny our young men employment in the uniform services because their ears are pierced cannot have my support.

It is time that these archaic rules are flushed.

NOEL G. OSBOURNE

ngosbourne@hotmail.com

Kingston 6