Not enough women in Luxembourg businesses

(CS) Only one in five leading positions in Luxembourg are held by women, equal opportunities minister Françoise Hetto-Gaasch revealed as she called for both parents to work at 75%, making time for their children.

The figures come from a study on men and women in economic decision-making in 2011, which was first conducted between 2000 and 2004. In the meantime, the number of women in leading positions has risen from 16% to 20%, a rise that shows “a positive evolution,” said Hetto-Gaasch.

The study also showed that women were better represented in companies with less than 15 employees. In small businesses, women hold 27% of directorial positions, while they make up 44% of staff.

In companies with 100 or more employees, only 18% of directorial positions are held by women, and they only make up 37% of staff.

Figures improve slightly when looking at decision-making posts in comparison to directorial positions. In companies with less than 15 employees, women make up 33% of staff in responsible positions, with 20% in companies with more than 100 employees.

Only a fifth of new businesses are founded by women.

"Far from a balance between men and women"

“We are thus far from a balance between men and women in decision-making posts,” said the minister even though “women are just as qualified as men, or even better so.”

Parental leave remained one of the main causes for women to fall behind their male colleagues, said the minister. While it was necessary to change this, the minister also proposed that couples share parental duties more evenly. “If both only worked at 75%, the couple would still receive a good salary and the children could profit from their parents,” Hetto-Gaasch said.

Unlike other countries, the minister does not intend to introduce quota regulations for the hiring of women into top jobs, instead counting on the good will of companies to take this step themselves. This comes as 43% of enterprises prefer voluntary measures to improve the role of women.

To effectively raise the number of women in leading positions, the equal opportunities ministry last year created the “DivBiz – Diversity in Business” network bringing together important business players.