Japanese airline takes flak over stewardesses’ miniskirts

The new uniforms of a Japanese budget airline were at the centre of a media storm in Japan after a cabin attendant labour union called them too skimpy and an invitation to sexual harassment.

The new uniforms of a Japanese budget airline were at the centre of a media storm in Japan after a cabin attendant labour union called them too skimpy and an invitation to sexual harassment.

The 1,000-strong union lodged a complaint last week with both the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare against Skymark’s new uniforms calling them tantamount to sexual harassment, and saying they objectify women working as cabin attendants.

The uniforms, some as short as 15 to 20 centimetres above the knee, will mean employees will receive more attention than usual, and they may invite unwanted handling by passengers, according to the union.

They also contend that the dresses will make their work more difficult as attendants will have to pay extra attention to their hemlines when crouching or reaching up for items, such as bags in luggage compartments.

The uniforms at the centre of the controversy were unveiled in Toulouse where Airbus delivered the first two A330 aircraft to Skymark on February 28, and have attracted much attention in Japan.

Skymark officials told Reuters that the new uniforms were temporary and that they would be exchanged for the original polo shirts and trousers at the end of the six month promotional campaign.

The aim of the new uniforms, company president Shinichi Nishikubo told journalists in Paris in February, was to give the impression that Skymark was a young and traditional airline carrier, and coincided with the launch of the new Airbus A330 flights.

Japanese authorities say they are looking in to whether the uniforms constitute an infringement of the company’s duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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