(Eagle News) — Business establishments can no longer require their female employees to wear high heels at work.
This is after Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III signed a department order making the rule, following calls made by a labor union that wearing heels for long periods of time poses health hazards.
According to Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say, high heels were defined in the order as shoes with narrow and pointed heels higher than an inch.
“We still allow one inch — there are people who are more comfortable wearing shoes with elevation — but it should be wedge-type shoes, not stilleto,” he said.
According to Say, under the order, all establishments–and not just those that employ salesladies—were also required to give “sitting breaks” to their employees.
They are also required to provide the seats for these employees.
The order will take effect 15 days after publication in a national broadsheet.
Bello said violators of the order may face penalties under existing labor rules.