Government workers, particularly transgenders, can now officially dress according to their gender identity under a recent directive of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) adopting a revised dress code for civil servants.
Under Memorandum Circular No. 16, s. 2024, issued on Nov. 29, 2024, officials and employees who are transgender – those whose gender identify differs from the sex the person was identified as having at birth – may be allowed to dress consistent with their preferred gender expression.
The policy also gives women who are cisgender – those whose gender identity corresponds with the sex the person was identified as having at birth – the option to wear skirts or pants, whichever they are comfortable with.
“If it will not affect the performance of duties and responsibilities of the official and/or employee, the agency shall not compel them to comply with dress code policy that will prohibit them to conform to their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics,” the CSC stated.
The revised dress code applies to officials and employees in all government offices, including local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, and state universities and colleges.
The schedule of wearing of official attire is as follows: ASEAN-inspired outfits on the first Monday of the month; Filipiniana-inspired outfits on the second to fourth Monday of the month; and agency-prescribed uniform from Tuesday to Friday, with smart casual on so-called “wash days.”
It likewise provides that the agency-prescribed uniform must be appropriate to the workplace and/or duties of the official or employee.
Long-sleeve polo with jacket or blouse with blazer may be suited for employees in offices with air-conditioning while short-sleeve polo shirts and blouses with light material would be better for employees in open office spaces, the CSC added.
However, the guidelines retains restrictions on certain attires when the official or employees are performing official functions within their workplaces and during virtual meetings: collarless T-shirts; blouses with over-plunging necklines; backless top/plunged back top; sleeveless shirts; see-through clothing, gauzy, transparent, or net-like clothing; sando, tank tops, tube tops, halters and strapless or spaghetti-strap blouse (unless worn as an undershirt); leggings, above-the-knee skirt, walking shorts, cycling shorts, and jogging pants (unless worn during official events involving physical exercise); ripped jeans; short pants; sandals, slippers, and slip-ins exposing the toes; heavy or theatrical make-up, except for those engaged in the performing arts; and other inappropriate clothes or accessories.
On the other hand, grooming policies on hairstyle/haircut or hair color may be prescribed when it is a legitimate requirement for the job with regards to safety, professionalism, uniformity or branding, and client preferences.
The growing of beard and mustache as well as wearing of tattoo and facial or body piercings shall be governed by internal rules and regulations of the respective agencies and offices in consultation with all its officials and employees.
Exemptions may be allowed when the nature of work of the official or employee demands that he/she wears clothing other than that prescribed in the circular (i.e, fire, jail and corrections officers, medical and health personnel, research and laboratory personnel, and those on field work); religious affiliation; physical disabilities and other legitimate reasons; pregnancy; those in mourning the death of a family members; and during emergency cases, inclement weather or post-disaster rehabilitation period.