METRO'S move to ban drivers who are obese may be discriminatory, says Tasmanian anti-discrimination commissioner Robin Banks.
Bus drivers have lashed out at Metro after being told employees who weigh more than 130kg will be banned from driving, put on other duties and placed on a weight-loss program.
Ms Banks said obesity had been classified as a disability in successful anti-discrimination cases in other states.
"As I understand it, there's certainly the potential for it to be unlawful under the Anti-Discrimination Act," she said.
"It will depend on whether or not Metro is able to show that a person of 130kg or more couldn't perform the inherent requirement of their job."
Overweight employees of the Government-owned bus company have six months to lose weight.
Ms Banks said employers were only allowed to discriminate on the basis of disability if the employee could not fulfil the requirements of the job, or the cost of modifying the equipment created an unjustifiable hardship for the employer.
Rail, Tram and Bus union branch secretary Samantha Simonetis said the cost of installing new sturdier seats into the Metro fleet was going to cost $750,000.
Ms Simonetis said while the union had campaigned for years for a health program, the office had been inundated with calls from upset Metro drivers.
"Drivers not even affected by the new obesity rule say that people are getting on the bus and looking at them wondering how much they weigh," she said.
"They feel like they are being publicly humiliated and they are."
Metro advertisements for casual bus drivers on the weekend said people over 130kg need not apply because of bus seat design limits.
Metro CEO Heather Haselgrove said the obesity law was designed to ensure employees' health and safety and the seats were rated only to 130kg.
Ms Haselgrove said weight should not get in the way of employees performing their duties and using equipment.
Australian Psychological Society chairman Darren Stops said it was positive if Metro was looking after employees' health and it was an unfortunate spin-off if it meant drivers were subjected to public scrutiny.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Metro's fat ban not fair
Dengan url
http://obrasartikel.blogspot.com/2012/11/metros-fat-ban-not-fair.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Metro's fat ban not fair
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar