Bill For Women'S Boardroom Quotas Clears Key Hurdle

BILL FOR WOMEN'S BOARDROOM QUOTAS CLEARS KEY HURDLE

(ANSA) - Rome, March 9 - A bill that would force Italian companies to have women executives form at least 30% of their boards by 2015 moved close to becoming law Wednesday when it cleared the Senate's Finance Committee.

The bill, which would be valid for public enterprises and firms quoted on the Italian stock exchange, was approved by the commission after the government withdrew its objections over an amendment.

The Senate and House floors can now vote on the measure, which will force firms to have boards with at least 20% women as of next year, and green lights are expected as it has cross-party support.

''It's a beautiful day. This achievement is the reward for a long battle,'' said Lella Golfo, an MP with Premier Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom party.

''Not only women, but the whole country has achieved a historic goal that finally brings us in line with the modern European democracies. We can be proud''.

Anna Finocchiaro, the Senate whip for the centre-left Democratic Party, said the biggest opposition group was ''very satisfied''.

Supporters said the law is needed to help spearhead greater equality in the workplace and in the labour market, an area where Italy lags behind its European partners.

A survey released in October by Manageritalia association said Italy was bottom of the EU rankings when it came to women in management with just under 12% being female.

According to the European Union's statistics bureau Eurostat, the employment rate for Italian women between the ages of 25 and 54 is 63.9%, compared to an EU average of 75.8%.

Only Malta has a lower rate, 56.6%, while in Germany the employment rate for women in that age bracket is 81.8% and in France it is 78.7%.

''I think that women who are aiming to be board members want to be appointed because they are appreciated for their abilities and not because of impositions,'' said Labour Minister Maurizio Sacconi.

''But given our country trails behind when it comes to equal opportunities, it is necessary to force things a little''.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano expressed similar sentiments on Monday in his message for International Women's Day when he said: ''Italian women are still far from having conquered equality in many fields''. photo: Industrialist and Confindustria Chairman Emma Marcegaglia

via lifeinitaly.com