The Federal Government of the Philippines, through its labour department, has issued an order banning private companies from demanding female employees to wear high-heeled shoes at work.
A labour group that proposed the new directive said that the order makes Philippines the first country in Asia to ban the mandatory wearing of high heels in workplace.
A spokesperson for the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of Philippines, ALU-TUCP, Alan Tanjusay said, “We hope that the regulation will also be copied and applied for the benefit of workers in the entire Asia region.
“With this regulation, millions of Filipino (workers) … will now be freed from the bondage of unsafe and dangerous working conditions.
Also speaking, Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello said the guidelines would take effect next month and was based on a study by a task force created following ALU-TUCP’s proposal.
He told the Philippine media, “We noticed how sales ladies, for example, look very tired after standing all day in heels.
“You can tell there is a feeling of inconvenience or they are uncomfortable.”
He added that the department has not received any negative feedback about the order during consultations.
Under the department’s guidelines, companies can no longer require womento wear shoes with heels more than 1 inch in height as part of the dress code at work.
