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 Women91裸聊视频檚 Day.

91裸聊视频淭he next petition should be one requiring men to wear high heels for a nine-hour shift before they insist women do,91裸聊视频� he said, quoting Samantha Power, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who criticized dress codes in the past.

91裸聊视频淲e are very far from an inclusive, gender-equal province, and today91裸聊视频� seems an appropriate time to take this overdue step,91裸聊视频� Weaver said.

As it stands now, there are some safety requirements for footwear in the Workers Compensation Act, but Weaver91裸聊视频檚 amended bill would prevent employers from having gender-based footwear requirements - specifically within the restaurant industry.

91裸聊视频淢any employers require that female staff wear high heels,91裸聊视频� he said, and 91裸聊视频渢his footwear can be extremely uncomfortable and unsafe.91裸聊视频�

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 it91裸聊视频檚 a practice already being implemented by restaurants across the province.

91裸聊视频淚 think that most restaurants are completely on board with this, for a bunch of reasons but certainly [for] a health and safety one,91裸聊视频� he said.

When providing best practices to its members, the association already suggests to make footwear requirements optional,91裸聊视频� Tostenson said.

He added with the industry facing a labour shortage, it91裸聊视频檚 in the employers best interest to do 91裸聊视频渨hatever they can to accommodate and retain employees.91裸聊视频�

SATURDAY POLL: What do you think about 91裸聊视频檚 bill that would prohibit employers from making high heels mandatory for women staff?91裸聊视频� Ashley Wadhwani (@ashwadhwani)

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca

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