CONCERNS AS TEXTILE FIRM ORDERS ALL EMPLOYEES TO WEAR PANTS

MATSAPHA – Golden Jubilee textile firm has recently implemented a new dress code policy, requiring all employees to wear pants, including females.

While this rule is intended to improve safety, it has caused some controversy among employees who have religious or cultural beliefs that prevent them from wearing pants. Many employees, especially traditionally married women, are concerned that this policy will negatively impact their social status, while others are of the view that it will affect their ability to continue working at the firm.

Pants

One employee shared with this publication that she had never worn pants from a young age until her adult life. She said her husband met and loved her as a woman who did not wear pants, and one of the reasons he chose to marry her was because of that.

“It is quite disturbing that we are forced to wear pants against our will and preference. This has been ongoing for quite a while now, and we can only comply because this is the only way we can put food on the table,” the employee claimed. She said this has had a negative effect on her relationship with her husband, who often expressed his anguish over her wearing pants. She said he was a traditional family man who did not believe in women who wore pants, as he felt they were controlling.

In the same breath, a married woman said her husband first thought she was lying when she told him that she was forced to wear pants at work. She said he thought she was having an affair and this did not sit well with him. The employee said it was unfortunate that they were forced to wear the pants, when they could also be provided with long overalls to protect them from harm in the workplace.

Unmarried

Another worker said although she was unmarried, she did not believe in wearing pants, as she considered them masculine. She said she grew up in a Zion Church where people who wore pants were deemed as rebellious. In her opinion, she disliked pants because she was a full-figured woman who, when wearing pants, exposed her ‘assets’. She said she did not like to see her body in pants as it made her uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, Joe Liao, one of the management members, confirmed the company’s policy. He revealed that the company provided pants for women while males provided their own. He said the pants and trousers were worn inside the workshop. He said they were comfortable and made employees to be relaxed, as per the international labour standards. Liao mentioned that the pants fully covered employees.

“The reason why we do this is for safety reasons. We don’t want a situation where a needle falls off on a worker’s lap and she gets injured,” he explained. On another note, Liao added that the company did what he termed a foundational training on its staff, whereby, before they resumed work in the morning, staff was taken through some training. He said they were reminded of their duties and how they were expected to execute them.

“Basically, management shares information to the team and our supervisor reminds them what they should do and how,” he said. He elaborated that the company’s culture required proactive employees. He emphasised that they were compliant to the labour laws. Liao said this was done in the presence of the human resources personnel.

When reacting to the company policy of wearing pants, One Billion Rising condemned it, regarding it as an infringement of women’s rights. Colani Hlatjwako, the Director of the women’s organisation group, stressed that companies should learn to consider that they were hiring human beings, who had rights that ought to be respected, during the hiring process.

Exploited

“They should be mindful that they are not just hiring objects that do not exist, who can be exploited anyhow. That is why internationally, the rights of workers are adhered to. If you create a policy that discriminates workers, it means you do not value the rights of employees,” Hlatjwako said.

The director went on to state that every employee should feel respected and comfortable in the environment they were working in. She expressed her discontent about the new company policy, stating their wish for the management of the company was to comply with Eswatini laws and the Constitution. She reiterated that the company’s policies should not be discriminatory and should be in line with the kingdom’s laws.
 

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