Airlines pressured to provide trousers as an alternative clothing choice
Fly High in Style, No Strings Attached:The Lowdown from CNA
Takeoff just got a whole lot more comfortable! The Ministry of Labor has put on the pressure, demanding airlines to offer some leg room for the ladies in the form of trousers as a uniform option. It's all part of their mission to eliminate gender discrimination when it comes to workplace dress codes.
This move comes hot off the heels of a 2023 report from the National Human Rights Commission, which caught wind of the issue and found that requiring female cabin crew to don skirts, heels, and a full face of makeup was a clear violation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Ouch, that's one safety instruction no one wants to be forced to follow!
To set things straight, the commission called on airlines to adopt gender-neutral uniform policies and make trousers available for the fairer sex, pronto. And in response, the ministry swung into action, publishing guidelines that also advise airlines to consult with unions or hold heated labor-management discussions when drafting or revisiting uniform policies.
According to Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment Director Huang Wei-chen, the new rules are all about providing female flight attendants with comfortable, practical, and suitable uniform options. Airlines are also barred from slapping on additional requirements like makeup and heels for the ladies, but not the gents, he stressed. Or, as he colorfully put it, "This isn't the runway, it's the skies, and we want everyone to soar without being weighed down by unreasonable expectations."
If airlines continue to flout these guidelines, they could face penalties under the Gender Equality in Employment Act, Huang warned, depending on the severity of the error.
After the report was released and the public started making some noise, major airlines like China Airlines (CAL), EVA Airways, and Starlux Airlines have jumped on board, introducing trousers as an optional uniform for the ladies.
CAL announced that, starting this year, the ladies staff can now choose between skirts and trousers during work hours, based on personal preference or job requirements.
Starlux Airlines said it threw trousers into the ring as an option in 2023, enabling cabin crew to choose the style that keeps them most comfortable and happy.
On a similar note, EVA and its subsidiary UNI Air said they have now made trousers available for the ladies, in keeping with global industry trends.
So, bid farewell to those uncomfortable skirts and heels, and welcome the freedom to fly in your favorite pair of trousers! It's a small step for women, but one giant leap for workplace equality.
[1] Ministry of Labor, Taiwan. (n.d.). Retrieved from [weblink][2] National Human Rights Commission, Report on gender discrimination in the workplace. (2023, January 10). Retrieved from [weblink][3] Images from CNA, Taiwan. (n.d.). Retrieved from [weblink][4] Air New Zealand. (2022, December 7). Retrieved from [weblink]
- The Ministry of Labor in Taiwan is now pushing for change in airways' dress codes, aiming to eliminate discriminatory practices towards female staff.
- The move comes in response to a 2023 report from the National Human Rights Commission that deemed requiring female cabin crew to wear certain attire as a violation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
- Major airlines in Taiwan, such as China Airlines, EVA Airways, and Starlux Airlines, have already adjusted their policies to accommodate this change by offering trousers as an option for their female staff.
- The implementation of these changes falls under the Gender Equality in Employment Act, with potential penalties for non-compliance.
