Australian bank to include hijab for staff

Australian bank Westpac decided to include a corporate hijab as a part of a new staff uniform line-up.

NewsCorp reported on Tuesday that Australian designer Carla Zampatti will design the corporate hijab which is set to release by April 2017.

The move comes after several other Australian organisations, such as the Commonwealth Bank and Optus have, included the hijab in their staff uniforms, Xinhua news agency reported.

Westpac's new hijab will include the bank's logo and is part of a push to ensure diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace, a bank spokeswoman said.

"As part of our new corporate wardrobe, we've designed a navy-blue hijab with a charcoal Westpac 'W' logo which blends beautifully with the broader uniform," the spokeswoman said.

"This is another way we can show our support for our people and ensure they feel great at work," she added.

Connie Wehbe, who works at Westpac's Bankstown branch in Sydney, has welcomed the move.

"I enjoy wearing a hijab to work as it helps others understand my culture and get to know me better," Wehbe said.

"The new branded hijabs will show Westpac recognises and accepts different cultures and I'm looking forward to wearing it as part of my uniform," she said.

--IANS

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