Afternoon:
9°c
France forces boardrooms to keep 40% of seats for women
Peter Allen in Paris21 Jan 2010
Large companies in France are to be forced to reserve at least 40 per cent of their boardroom seats for women.
The move will make the country one of the most progressive in the world for equal rights.
In Britain, for example, only 12 per cent of seats on the board of major companies are held by women, with many complaining of a “glass ceiling” that prevents them getting better jobs and higher pay.
France has less than 10 per cent female representation in boardrooms but women are becoming increasingly powerful.
Economy minister Christine Lagarde is one of the most influential members of President Nicolas Sarkozy's government while Anne Lauvergeon is the highly respected chief executive of nuclear fuel group Areva.
Mr Sarkozy's wife, former model turned pop singer Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, is also keen to portray herself as a serious decision maker, advising her husband on a range of issues including ministerial appointments and arts policy.
Since their marriage in 2008, Mr Sarkozy has pledged to make his cabinet an equal balance of the sexes, although it remains dominated by men.
The new Bill to ensure the 40 per cent boardroom figure is sponsored by Mr Sarkozy's governing UMP party.
MP Marie-Jo Zimmermann, one of its backers, said: “We have to create an electric shock which will put an end to a situation which is both anachronistic and unjustifiable which keeps women out of positions where they are just as legitimate as men.”
An earlier parliamentary proposal ordered full gender equality on company boards, but this was considered unworkable.
Under the latest version of the Bill, companies will have three years to ensure that 20 per cent of their board is made up of women, and they will have to reach the 40 per cent level in six years.
The new French measure is likely to become law within the next few months.
Reader views (6)
so what happened to 'best man for the job'. So now a female 'has' to be employed even though she might not actually be the best person for the job. Crazy.
- Tony, Barnet, 22/01/2010 07:52
Report abuse
Quantity vs quality - sounds like socialism to me.
- Rogan, Irving, 22/01/2010 03:25
Report abuse
I thought that we had it bad. It has been seen time and time again that quotas do not work in any area of life or business. To succeed you need the best person for the job not someone to reach the idealogical sex/race/sexual orientation balance. But, hey ho, the worlds gone mad, who needs people that can get the job done these days, so long as the vocal lobbyists are happy, who cares about the rest, certainly not politicians in any shape/size or party.
- Smithy, leatherhead, surrey, 21/01/2010 23:07
Report abuse
Discrimination is discrimination: it's not like France has a sexist education policy - it rigidly sticks to 'every kid gets the same', and it takes no statistics on what sex, colour or shape they are. What should be examined is why, after getting the same start, women do not get so far later. I gather one study into the subject showed that men are simply more aggressive in pursuing their career and more assertive in constantly asking for more pay or promotion every time they feel they have done their job well. Just say 'grab some token women' is not going to further the interests of the company, the women or the position of women in society.
- Roz, France, 21/01/2010 15:16
Report abuse
".. the most progressive in the world for equal rights."
There is nothing "equal" about it, just ask Harpy Hairyman. It is called discrimination, pure and simple.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 21/01/2010 14:32
Report abuse
Don't let Harriet Harperson see this! It only takes one to make the tea ........ (joke, honest)
It's bonkers of course. Why not 50/50 male/female, 7% gay, 30% 'ethnic minority' and 25% left handers? But then we have to consider people who wear glasses .... and ginger people. This is harder than I thought
- Paul, London, 21/01/2010 14:04
Report abuse
