Employees’ organisations in Rajasthan are unhappy with a labour department circular prohibiting jeans and t-shirts while on duty. Labour Commissioner Giriraj Singh Kushwaha issued a circular specifying the dress code on June 21, PTI reported on Wednesday.

“It is often seen that some officers/employees come to work in jeans, t-shirts and other indecent dresses which is disrespectful and against the dignity of the office,” the circular said. “Therefore, it is expected of all the officers and employees that they, while maintaining the dignity of the department, come to office in decent clothes like pants and shirt.” Kushwaha claimed that the circular was issued in order to maintain office decorum.

However, All Rajasthan Employees Federation (United) President Gajendra Singh said the organisation opposed the directive and would make a representation to the commissioner. “How can jeans and t-shirt be an indecent or ungracious outfit?” he questioned, adding that there were no such service rules in the state.

Akhil Rajasthan Rajya Karmachari Samyukt Mahasangh General Secretary Tej Singh Rathore called the order childish, The Times of India reported. “If the department wants the employees to wear a uniform, then issue them one,” he said. “Jeans are not vulgar. Many MLAs and MPs wear it. There is no dress code for others, so why target employees of a particular department?”