Female employees must wear high heels at workplace- says Japan Health and Labour Minister

Guwahati: The Japanese practice of making female employees wear high heels to the workplace is perhaps never going to change in the near future. When irked and irritated employees complained about this issue seeking some solace from the high heel practice, the Health and Labour Minister of the country makes clear that it is “necessary and appropriate.” With this remark made by the minister defending the high heel tradition at the workplace makes it understandable to all that there is no way out but to continue wearing heels.

Remarkably, a petition was filed by a group of women to the government against the practice and the said minister Takumi Nemoto was asked to comment on the petition. The petitioners wanted the Japan government to ban the practice of high heels at the workplace for female employees.

Nemoto said, “It is socially accepted as something that falls with the realm of being occupationally necessary and appropriate.”

The petition and the campaign against the use of high heels at the workplace have been dubbed #KuToo, which is derived from the Japanese word “kutsu”. “Kutsu” means shoes -- and “kutsuu” – means “pain”. This term #KuToo also refers to the global #MeToo movement which is being circulated against sexual abuse.

Actress and freelance writer Yumi Ishikawa started this movement first which gained quick response and support from thousands of people in the country. However, despite the huge support to the campaign the government is adamant at its opinion and has mandated the high heels at the workplace.

When at a time some companies and institutions consider the high heels as a part of a dress code and more like a formal dressing, this is not always easy and convenient for women to wear high heels to the workplace every day.

An incident can be cited here when in the Cannes Film festival 2015 access to the red carpet was denied to women for not wearing high heels. But later the director of the film festival had to seek apology for his behavior. However, despite the protest and controversy evoked due to this incident, the dress code remained intact in the Cannes Film festival. Notably, Hollywood superstar Julia Roberts had gone to the festival barefoot the next year as a mark of protest.

Also read: AIIMS: Wearing High Heels Can Cause Major Joint Problems