Cathay Pacific flight attendants are pushing the airline to redesign their uniforms for women because they are too revealing and may provoke sexual harassment.
The Flight Attendants Union (FAU) say the skirts are too tight fitting and the blouses are too short, showing flesh when the attendant bends down, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
FAU honorary secretary Michelle Choi said:
“We believe the company intentionally does this to make us look a bit sexier and to let the passenger see more.”
The flight attendants also fear that the revealing uniforms were contributing to a rise in incidents of sexual harassment of flight attendants by passengers, which is reported on one in ten flights.
Choi also told SCMP that flight managers do not protect staff, and while they do say that it is up to the attendant to call the police, she is subtly pressured not to delay the flight by taking such action.
In a statement, Cathay Pacific said that it does “not tolerate any form of harassment” and had altered the uniforms in response to staff feedback prior to launch in 2011, but welcome any new comments, saying:
“We welcome feedback from the crew and certain modifications have also been made, including the length of the blouse and the tightness of the skirt.”
These complaints by Cathay Pacific crew members come in the wake of similar complaints by the flight attendants of the Japanese budget airline Skymark in March.
Cathay Pacific uniforms showcased in 2011. Photograph courtesy of Cathay Pacific
