Green Party leader Andrew Weaver wants to ban B.C. employers from making high heels mandatory.

Weaver introduced a bill amending the Workers Compensation Act in legislature on March 8, in light of International Women香蕉视频直播檚 Day.

香蕉视频直播淭he next petition should be one requiring men to wear high heels for a nine-hour shift before they insist women do,香蕉视频直播� he said, quoting Samantha Power, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who criticized dress codes in the past.

香蕉视频直播淲e are very far from an inclusive, gender-equal province, and today香蕉视频直播� seems an appropriate time to take this overdue step,香蕉视频直播� Weaver said.

As it stands now, there are some safety requirements for footwear in the Workers Compensation Act, but Weaver香蕉视频直播檚 amended bill would prevent employers from having gender-based footwear requirements - specifically within the restaurant industry.

香蕉视频直播淢any employers require that female staff wear high heels,香蕉视频直播� he said, and 香蕉视频直播渢his footwear can be extremely uncomfortable and unsafe.香蕉视频直播�

Ian Tostenson, president of the B.C. Restaurant and Food Association, said he supports allowing woman to make their own choice when it comes to footwear, and that it香蕉视频直播檚 a practice already being implemented by restaurants across the province.

香蕉视频直播淚 think that most restaurants are completely on board with this, for a bunch of reasons but certainly [for] a health and safety one,香蕉视频直播� he said.

When providing best practices to its members, the association already suggests to make footwear requirements optional,香蕉视频直播� Tostenson said.

He added with the industry facing a labour shortage, it香蕉视频直播檚 in the employers best interest to do 香蕉视频直播渨hatever they can to accommodate and retain employees.香蕉视频直播�

SATURDAY POLL: What do you think about 香蕉视频直播檚 bill that would prohibit employers from making high heels mandatory for women staff?香蕉视频直播� Ashley Wadhwani (@ashwadhwani)

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca

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