25-08-2010
Prada Japan hits back at ex-employee over harassment
lawsuit
TOKYO, Aug 25, 2010 AFP © - The Japanese unit of Italian fashion
house Prada has launched a countersuit claiming
defamation against a former employee who is suing the company for
alleged sexual harassment and unfair dismissal.
Rina Bovrisse's Facebook fan page
Prada Japan is suing former manager Rina Bovrisse at the Tokyo
District Court, which held its first hearing Tuesday, demanding she
pay 33 million yen (390,000 dollars) for harming its image, the
Japan Times reported Wednesday.
Bovrisse and two of her former colleagues at the Tokyo boutique are
suing Prada Japan, alleging she was unfairly fired after
being told she was "ugly" and didn't have "the Pradalook" by a
top company executive.
Bovrisse wants her dismissal overturned and is seeking damages for
emotional distress after the two sides failed to reach an
out-of-court settlement at a labour tribunal.
"I'm here to take a stand for Japanese women who have been victims
of harassment and discrimination at the workplace," Bovrisse said
at a news conference in April.
Bovrisse, a Japanese national married to a Frenchman, alleges
that Prada Japan pressured a number of female employees
into resigning by describing them as "aged, ugly, fat, bad body
shape, bad teeth, disgusting and not cute".
According to Bovrisse, a company executive also told her through a
human resources manager to change her hairstyle, lose weight and
ensure she fits the "Prada look".
She claims Prada Japan fired her in March after she
complained to the company's headquarters about the alleged
harassment.