Taiwan Takes Flight: New Uniform Guidelines Soar for Gender Equality in the Skies

Airlines in Taiwan are adapting uniform policies, promoting choice and fairness for flight attendants.

Taipei, April 26 - In a move towards greater workplace equality, Taiwan's Ministry of Labor has unveiled new guidelines, compelling airlines to provide trousers as a uniform option for female flight attendants. This initiative reinforces the nation's commitment to dismantling gender-based discrimination in workplace dress codes.

The policy follows a 2023 report from Taiwan's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The NHRC's findings highlighted that mandating skirts, heels, and makeup for female cabin crew contravened the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

In the wake of the report, the NHRC advocated for airlines to embrace gender-neutral uniform policies, specifically making trousers a standard option for female flight attendants.

Responding to this call, the Ministry of Labor has published guidelines that encourage airlines to collaborate with unions or conduct labor-management discussions when formulating or updating uniform policies.

According to Huang Wei-chen (黃維琛), director of the MOL's Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment, the new regulations mandate that airlines offer uniform options that are comfortable, practical, and suitable for all working hours.

He also clarified that employers are prohibited from imposing gender-specific requirements such as makeup or high heels. Furthermore, airlines are restricted from asking job applicants to pre-select their uniforms during the recruitment phase.

Airlines that fail to adhere to these guidelines and maintain discriminatory dress codes could face penalties under Taiwan's Gender Equality in Employment Act, contingent on the severity of the violation.

Following the NHRC report and mounting public pressure, major airlines like China Airlines (CAL), EVA Airways (EVA), and Starlux Airlines have progressively integrated trousers as an optional uniform component for female flight attendants.

CAL has declared that female staff can choose between skirts and trousers during work hours, based on personal preference or work requirements, starting this year.

Starlux Airlines reported the introduction of trousers as an option in 2023, enabling cabin crew to choose styles best suited to their comfort and individual preferences.

Similarly, EVA and its subsidiary UNI Air have recently made trousers accessible to female flight attendants, aligning with global industry trends.

Prior to these advancements, Tigerair Taiwan stood out as the sole Taiwanese airline to offer trousers as a standard uniform choice for female flight attendants.