Berlin
(dpa) - The German government has unveiled plans legally requiring large
companies and the public sector to guarantee more women jobs in upper
management starting next year.
In
guidelines unveiled in Berlin on Tuesday, Justice Minister Heiko Maas and
Womens‘ Minister Manuela Schwesig called for a 30 per cent quota for women on
the advisory boards of Germany‘s top 108 listed companies from 2016.
The
draft legislation also calls for stronger female participation on advisory
boards, managing boards and in upper management at 3,500 other key German firms
from 2015. The companies will be allowed to set their own quotas, but success
rates will be closely monitored by the government.
The
legislation also foresees higher female participation in public sector
management, including administration, courts and government-owned companies.
According
to the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) in Berlin, only 15.9 per
cent of advisory board members at the top 200 German companies were women in
2013. On managing boards, only 4.4 per cent were women. Representation of women
was better in upper tiers of the public sector and courts, however, reaching 30
per cent in 2009.
"There
have been years of discussion and debate, but far too little has happened.
Enough of voluntary goals. We will get this law on more women in management
under way," said Schwesig of the Social Democrats (SPD).
In a
statement, the German Institute for Economic Research said that various
voluntary public-private initiatives since 2001 had failed to significantly
increase the number of women in upper management.
Maas,
also of the SPD, added: "Today we have the best-educated women in history.
This must finally be reflected in management."
Schwesig
stressed that the guidelines have been approved by Chancellor Angela Merkel,
head of the Christian Democrats, and SPD boss and deputy chancellor Sigmar
Gabriel.
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