THE lack of height should not hamper an individual's pursuit of being employed.
With that in mind, Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Partylist Representatives Eric Go Yap, Jocelyn Tulfo, and Niña Taduran filed House Bill 7740, to be known as the "Height Equality Act."
Yap, who is also the legislative caretaker of Benguet, said height, or the lack thereof, must not be a barrier to employment opportunities for Filipinos.
The measure seeks to lift the height restrictions imposed on job applicants in both the public and private sector.
"Kahit ngayon, mayroon pa rin mga trabaho na naglalagay ng minimum height requirement. Napapansin kasi natin na mas maraming oportunidad para sa mga matatangkad. Minsan normal job posting na nga lang, kahit hiring sa factory, may height requirement pa na kailangan," Yap said.
Yap added that it is about time for Filipinos to be given equal opportunity when looking for employment especially during this time of pandemic.
"Hindi dapat nasusukat sa height ng isang tao ang kakayahang mag-trabaho. Panahon na para bigyan ng level playing field ang mga kulang sa height upang makapag-apply sa mga nais nilang trabaho na hindi kailangan ma-disqualify agad dahil lang hindi naabot ang height requirement ng isang kumpanya o ahensya," he said.
"Hindi natin sinasabing sila dapat ang priority, pero nararapat lamang na bigyan sila ng equal chance para ipakita ang kaya nila at hindi lang basta hindi tatanggapin dahil kulang sa height. Sakop pa rin sila sa ibang requirements at training na kailangan," Yap added. (SunStar Baguio)