RP women told look less sexy

RP women told look less sexy

MANILA (Reuter): The Philippines told women civil servants on Wednesday not to wear seductive clothes to work if they wanted to avoid unwelcome sexual advances.

The head of the civil service and one of the country's most senior women officials, Alma de Leon, reminded women workers of a 1991 official memorandum banning "tight-fitting, seductive, micro-mini and gauzy or transparent dresses" in government offices.

Walking shorts, pedal pushers, leggings, tights, jogging pants and jeans, as well as "flashy bangles (and) heavy make-up" are also prohibited. But pantaloons usually worn at formal functions are allowed, the memo says.

Violators are liable to reprimand or even suspension for insubordination.

De Leon issued the reminder to avoid cases of women complaining of being sexually harassed by male colleagues, personnel officer Antonio Bangalisan told Reuters.

Bangalisan cited the case of a provincial woman employee who filed a case of sexual harassment against a politician but was later told by her superiors she could have avoided the incident if she had not worn eye-popping clothes.

"Plunging necklines could be a temptation for sexual harassment," he said.