Mall workers’ high heels replaced with new shoes

Female employees of one of the biggest malls in Quezon City got an early Christmas gift after their employer brought them a more suitable footwear to replace their high heeled shoes.

In an interview, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III lauded the management of the Fisher Mall for its exceptional compliance with their newly implemented Department Order (Do) 178-17.

“This is very impressive, because imagine they not only comply (with the department order), they even brought (appropriate) shoes for their employees,” Bello said.

“This is a good model to follow (for other companies),” he added.

DO 178-17 contains the health and safety guidelines for employees, whose nature of work involves standing and walking for long periods of time.

The issuance also banned employers from requiring their workers to wear high heeled shoes, which will be higher than one inch. It also recommended that footwear of female employees should either be flat or low-heels that must be wide-based or wedge type. (Samuel Medenilla)