欧盟拟要求理发师不得穿高跟鞋,而穿防滑的平底鞋 - By Tim Shipman,10 April 2012

Hairdressers will be banned from wearing high heels and jewellery under nanny state proposals being drawn up in Brussels.

A health and safety directive orders stylists to wear ‘non-slip soles’ when they are cutting hair and bans wedding rings and watches as unhygienic.

The plans will see hairdressers told not to let staff do too many haircuts in one day to prevent ‘emotional collapses’.

And the bizarre rules will tell salon workers to have a regular ‘social dialogue’ – code for gossipy chats – to encourage ‘mental wellbeing’ in the workplace.

The National Hairdressers’ Federation warns the plans will cost the UK industry ￡3million a year in wasted time and red tape.

The agreement is due to be signed this month between EU Coiffure, a group of European salon bosses, and UNI Europa Hair & Beauty, a union for European hairdressers.

Both groups are ‘social partners’ of the European Commission and will submit the deal to Brussels to become an EU-wide directive binding on all 27 states.

Employment minister Chris Grayling vowed: ‘We should be creating jobs, not killing them. This kind of stupidity has to stop. It makes no sense and I will do everything I can to stop it.’

For the chop: If the plans get the go ahead, salon staff would have to wear flat non-slip shoes while cutting hair - with stilettos and other high heels banned

Chit chat: The rules would also insist on salon workers having a regular 'social dialogue' to encourage 'mental wellbeing' in the workplace. Posed by models

EU sources admitted agreements drawn up by social partners have ‘often’ been adopted by Brussels bureaucrats.

If the plans are agreed by the European Commission they will be submitted to the European Council of member states.

Department for Work and Pensions officials are also confused by the odd wording of the plans.

Another cut: The agreement between EU Coiffure, a group of European salon bosses, and UNI Europa Hair & Beauty would also see the number of haircuts staff can carry out restricted to prevent 'emotional collapses'

One clause reads: ‘The parties recognise that effective social dialogue at the workplace makes an important contribution to creating a working environment that is conducive to high levels of mental health and wellbeing.’

A source said: ‘It can be interpreted as an instruction to engage in social chats.’

The agreement concludes: ‘To contribute to a healthy and  balanced mental environment, the employer shall ensure a careful preparation of work…and work organisation aiming at optimising resource management and preventing emotional collapses.’

Officials admit they are ‘not entirely clear what this means’ but it is likely to be used to restrict working times.