Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment, DOLE, has banned the mandatory wearing of high-heeled shoes in workplaces among female workers.
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The ban by DOLE followed persuasive pressure mounted on the agency by country’s labour union.
Local reports say on Friday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III signed the department’s order banning workplace rules that require women to wear shoes with heels that are higher than an inch.
The ban encourages heels to be wide and not pointy.
The ban, which came with some new laws require companies to allow employees who go about their tasks standing up—salespersons, security guards and factory workers, among them—to have regular rest periods.
The labour union had clamour for the ban.
“We received many persistent complaints from sales ladies working in department stores and malls that they are in pain walking and standing for long hours, performing their jobs in high heel shoes. They also worry that it might have long-term damaged on them,” the union had said.
