http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23797899-france-forces-boardrooms-to-keep-40-percent-of-seats-for-women.do France forces boardrooms to keep 40% of seats for women
*Peter Allen in Paris* 21.01.10 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<http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/related-44760-christine-lagarde.do> 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<http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/related-160-carla-bruni.do>, 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.
