Big businesses pay no mind to minor differences
Reports say safety is about the only reason Australian employers feel the need to ban the burqa.
As Palmer United Party Senator Jacqui Lambie prepares a private member's bill to ban the religious headdress in Australia, some of the nation’s largest employers say they are not threatened by clothing.
Ms Lambie claims wearing the garment is a national security issue, but employers say the only issues would come from the chance of catching in machinery or other personal risks.
Australia Post says its employees can wear a head-to-toe niqab or burqa because “our workplace truly reflects the rich diversity of the Australian communities we serve every day,” a spokesperson recently said.
Similarly, Telstra says it has no specific “dress code policy” across any of its various public and office departments.
There are some restrictions though.
A Victorian Roads and Maritime Services spokesperson has told News Corp reporters that “headwear such as turbans and headscarves” can be worn when taking a licence photo but “the individual’s face must be seen.”
“In cases where a woman also wears a veil, they can request to have the photo taken by a female staff member outside normal office hours,” the spokesperson said.