It’s about time this happened.
Anyone who has worn high heels knows the pain of having to walk in them and up until recently, a lot of Filipino women were required to wear them as part of their work uniform.
That all changed on Sunday when the Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Department Order 178-17 mandated that employers are not allowed to require their employees to wear high heels.
This is especially helpful for those working as salespeople in department stores, teachers, assembly line workers, and security personnel who need to stand or walk most of the day.
The new order also set other measures to improve the working conditions of employees.
Employers now must implement rest periods, install mats to lessen the impact of prolonged standing and constant walking, make seats accessible in the work area, provide tables with adjustable heights so employees can continue working even while seated, and implement the use of comfortable footwear like flats or ones with heels that are no higher than one inch.
DOLE’s order is an answer to a request from labor unions in August to stop requiring women employees to wear high heels, which they said can cause pain and injuries.
Reader Interactions