ZHENGZHOU, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Street cleaners in central China last week were stunned by the stylish shoes they were given as new year present s by their bosses.

"High heels. Are you kidding me?" said a cleaner surnamed Zhao, who works in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province.

A short video of Zhao wearing his street cleaning uniform, while showing off his new 6 cm high-heels went viral Monday.

He works for a sanitation firm in Erqi District and said many of his fellow workers, nearly all men, had also received high heels.

Zhao's wife works at the same firm but only received a pair of sandals, three sizes too small.

"We were requested to report our shoe sizes several days in advance," Zhao said. "I know they meant well, but why didn't they offer us something more useful?"

Many web users criticized the firm for not showing their workers due respect.

"It is just a ceremonial gesture and not heartfelt at all," said web user "Na Yan."

"Did their boss seriously mean to do something for the workers, or did he just reach a deal with some shoe dealer destocking?" said web user "Xie Weifeng."

An official with the firm denied such suspicions.

"The shoes were just donations from a local shopping mall," said Hu, general office manager with the firm. "There were shoes for men and women, but unluckily we didn't have the time or personnel to make sure the right shoes went to the right people."

Hu told Xinhua that his company had promised to collect the improper shoes from the workers and ensure they received a more suitable pair.

Yu Xin, a lawyer based in Guangzhou, said that employers should find out what workers actually needed before giving presents.

"A glass of water on a scorching summer day or a mask during smog could be more valuable than high heels," he said

Yu said it was more important to protect workers' rights, as some street cleaners have complained that they face fines if they are seen taking breaks at work.