100 or 200 years to achieve gender parity
An International Labour Organization report warns that achieving gender parity on company Boards could take between 100 and 200 years.
13.01.2015
"If action were not undertaken, it could take between 100 and 200 years to achieve gender parity on boards”, warns Deborah France-Massin, one of the ILO director. “It is time to break down the barriers. Women on Boards is simply good for business”.
According to the ILO report Women in Business and Management: Gaining Momentum, in 80 out of the 108 countries evaluated, the proportion of women in leading positions has increased in recent years. However, only 5% of world CEOs are women.
The report identifies as main causes the fact that women continue to take on the majority of family and domestic responsibilities and that the business culture is still dominated by men.
Aiming to promote gender equality, the ILO report make some suggestions. It encourages “flexible solutions” in order to achieve a work-life balance, as well as some measures to protect maternity and initiatives against sexual harassment and cultural barriers.
“Our research shows that the more women in labour market, the more increase in global growth and competitiveness. Moreover, a growing number of studies are showing positive links between women in companies and its development”, points out France-Massin.
The report also calls for gender awareness-raising policies so men and women enjoy the same rights.
Jamaica is the country with more women on boards, 59,3%, and Yemen is the last one. Spain is ranked 57th, 30%. Norway is the country with more women president of a company, 13,3%.
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