A Japanese minister has said it is "necessary" for companies to enforce dress codes that require women to wear high heels at work, BBC reports.
Japan’s labour minister says high heels at work are 'necessary'
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 6, ARTSAKHPRESS: Takumi Nemoto, Japan's health and labour minister, defended the controversial practice.
"It is socially accepted as something that falls within the realm of being occupationally necessary and appropriate," Mr Nemoto said.
He reportedly made the comments at a parliamentary committee on Wednesday.
One lawmaker, Kanako Otsuji, suggested such rules were "outdated" during the same session, Kyodo News reports.
Mr Nemoto was asked to comment on a campaign spearheaded by actor and writer Yumi Ishikawa, who is calling for discriminatory workplace dress codes to be scrapped.
Campaigners say that wearing high heels is seen as obligatory when applying for jobs.
"I hope this campaign will change the social norm so that it won't be considered to be bad manners when women wear flat shoes like men," Ms Ishikawa said.
