Viviane Reding, the EU Justice Commissioner, has stated that she will consider implanting quotas which will require businesses to hire more female workers if a meeting next year with the bosses of European companies does not produce the necessary results.
Speaking to EUobserver.com, she stated: "I have not been an advocate of quotas for women in senior business posts in the past, but given the lack of progress in this area, we might in the future have to consider taking initiatives at the European level. Depending on the outcome of this dialogue with industry, I will consider whether further initiatives will be necessary in 2012."
Mervyn Davies, the head of the Government's inquiry into gender inequality, confirmed that the UK is also considering instituting quotas as a "last resort" if other, less direct measures fail. He remarked: "The reality is we only have 12% of FTSE 100 board members who are women, and when you go to the FTSE 250 it falls to 7%."
The European Commission launched its new five-year gender equality strategy on 21st September 2010. The strategy has identified increasing equality in the economy, labour market and senior positions, tackling gender violence and promoting equality beyond the EU as its key priorities.
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