A Perth bar that instructed female staff members to stop wearing men's loose uniform shirts in favour of a tighter, lower cut designed for women has backed down from the decision after it sparked a backlash.

Key points: The manager said the change was made for occupational health and safety reasons

The manager said the change was made for occupational health and safety reasons He said the venue had consulted with a number of employees over the attire

He said the venue had consulted with a number of employees over the attire But one former female employee denied claims that any consultation had taken place

Amplifier Capitol in the city's CBD said it was trying to lift uniform standards when it told female staffers on a Facebook group it would be taking back the men's shirts it had previously issued and replacing them with the alternative.

But some female staff members were upset about being asked to wear a shirt with a much lower neckline.

In the social media post, manager David Heaton told staff the new shirt was a condition of employment, and if they did not feel comfortable with it, they were welcome to find work elsewhere.

Mr Heaton told the ABC the uniform change was made for occupational health and safety reasons.

The Facebook message David Heaton sent to staff members.

"We need to ensure the health and safety of our employees," he said.

"Baggy shirts catch on things and could cause injury in the workplace."

Mr Heaton said the original policy had been in place since 2017, but was only recently enforced.

He said the venue had consulted with a number of employees over the attire, and it was decided the "scoop-neck style" would be appropriate for women.

Concerns ignored, former worker says

One former female employee denied the claims that any consultation had taken place.

The Amplifier Bar says female staff members will now be given the choice of shirts. ( Supplied: Google Maps )

She said staff were only informed of the change via the Facebook post, and many of the women were extremely unhappy with the move.

She said concerns were raised with management, but were ignored.

Mr Heaton said female staff members would now be given the choice of shirts.

"We will in future, ensure that employees can choose to wear two styles of shirts, provided that those shirts can't catch on things," he said.

He said no-one had been fired over the incident.

Bar's actions 'unacceptable': union

The hospitality union United Voice said it was disgusted by the treatment of the venue's female staff.

"It's clear to everyone that sexual harassment is rampant in hospitality and this unacceptable move by management at Amplifier Bar just goes to show how ingrained the issues are," United Voice WA secretary Carolyn Smith said.

"Under what circumstance would women feel comfortable being heckled or on display when they are trying to work?"

Ms Smith said the bar's decision to reverse the uniform change was only a band-aid solution to a greater problem.

"The reality is women in hospitality are targeted by creeps of all kinds," she said.

"Women are there to work and they deserve to go to work without being harassed."

Unreserved apology for 'poor judgement'

On Tuesday, Mr Heaton released a public statement on Facebook on behalf of the venue.

"I unreservedly apologise for the recent proposed … uniform changes at Amplifier Capitol — for the decision, my comments and the manner in which this has been handled," Mr Heaton said.

"The team at Amplifier Capitol and I have been taking stock and reading the various comments and concerns from patrons and staff before publicly responding to the issue.

"The proposed changes were made in poor judgement, without full consideration of the implications for our female staff."

Mr Heaton described his statement that staff unhappy with the changes could find work elsewhere as a "throwaway comment that I very much regret".