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| Cathay Pacific ends skirts-only rule for female staff | Cathay Pacific ends skirts-only rule for female staff |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Female cabin crew at Cathay Pacific have won a battle to scrap a rule forcing them to wear skirts. | Female cabin crew at Cathay Pacific have won a battle to scrap a rule forcing them to wear skirts. |
| The Hong Kong airline has agreed flight attendants can choose to wear trousers, after intense union pressure. | |
| Some crew had complained that wearing short skirts had made them feel uncomfortable - especially when putting bags in overhead lockers or taking public transport to and from work. | Some crew had complained that wearing short skirts had made them feel uncomfortable - especially when putting bags in overhead lockers or taking public transport to and from work. |
| But change will not happen until Cathay next refreshes its staff uniforms. | But change will not happen until Cathay next refreshes its staff uniforms. |
| That could take three years, according to unions. | That could take three years, according to unions. |
| "We welcome and appreciate the company's decision on giving us an option in choosing uniforms," said Pauline Mak, vice chair of the Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Flight Attendants Association. | "We welcome and appreciate the company's decision on giving us an option in choosing uniforms," said Pauline Mak, vice chair of the Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Flight Attendants Association. |
| 'Protection' | 'Protection' |
| The skirts-only rule has been in place since the airline was founded in 1946 - despite a growing backlash which appears to have gained even more momentum during the #MeToo movement. | The skirts-only rule has been in place since the airline was founded in 1946 - despite a growing backlash which appears to have gained even more momentum during the #MeToo movement. |
| Flight attendants had requested a redesign of their workwear in 2014 - saying the skirts were too revealing and may provoke sexual harassment. | Flight attendants had requested a redesign of their workwear in 2014 - saying the skirts were too revealing and may provoke sexual harassment. |
| Ms Mak said the policy change "not only provides us one more option, but also provides us with protection". | Ms Mak said the policy change "not only provides us one more option, but also provides us with protection". |
| The airline said uniforms would be re-evaluated for crew working for both its Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon carriers. | The airline said uniforms would be re-evaluated for crew working for both its Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon carriers. |
| "Just as we recognise it is important to provide our customers with more choice, the same is also true for our colleagues," an airline spokesperson said. | "Just as we recognise it is important to provide our customers with more choice, the same is also true for our colleagues," an airline spokesperson said. |