Cabin crew call for ‘too sexy’ uniform alteration
Cathay Pacific flight attendants are asking the airline to redesign its uniforms for women, which they say are too revealing and may provoke sexual harassment.
The union representing cabin crew has complained that the blouses are too short, showing off flesh when the attendants bend down.
The Flight Attendants Union also said the skirts of the uniforms, introduced in 2011, are too tight-fitting, but says management has so far rejected its call for a redesign.
FAU honorary secretary Michelle Choi told the Hong Kong newspaper The South China Morning Post: "The blouse is too short and does not cover enough. Whenever a flight attendant bends down, her waistline is exposed.
"We believe the company intentionally does this to make us look a bit sexier and to let the passenger see more."
Choi said she believed the revealing uniforms were contributing to rise in incidents of sexual harassment of cabin crew by passengers, which she now estimates affect each cabin crew member on one in every 10 flights.
The FAU had passed on complaints from its members, she said, but no action had been taken to adjust the uniforms. The matter is expected to be raised during a meeting with management on May 13.
In a written response, Cathay Pacific said it had modified the design of the uniforms in response to staff feedback prior to the official launch in 2011.
"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.
"Crew are welcome to exchange their uniform any time if they feel the fit is not right."
On the issue of harassment, the company said: "We do not tolerate any form of harassment and take the issue of sexual harassment very seriously."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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