New research reveals that the\u00a0number of senior roles filled by women in business in South Africa has declined 2% from 2013 and has remained static at between 26% and 28%.<\/p>\n
This is according to research from Grant Thornton\u2019s 2014 International Business Report on Women in Business.<\/p>\n
Globally, the proportion of senior roles filled by women in 2014 is 24%. This is exactly the same proportion as 2013, 2009 and 2007, and only 5% higher than the 19% recorded ten years ago in 2004.<\/p>\n
According to an article in the Sunday Times, The Women Empowerment Gender Equality Bill, adopted in the National Assembly, calls for at least 50% of decision-making posts to be held by women.<\/p>\n
Eight in 10 South African businesses do not run a programme to support or mentor women.<\/p>\n
Grant Thornton noted that women only fill 26% of senior management positions in South Africa, while 21% of local businesses have no women at all in senior management.<\/p>\n
Jeanette Hern, deputy CEO of Grant Thornton Johannesburg, said that business is strongly opposed to the 50% requirement set out in the gender bill as a way of addressing the problems, because it has several shortcomings.<\/p>\n
Business Unity South Africa \u00a0argues that the 50% target is \u201cunrealistic and unattainable\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to the Times, another objection to the bill\u2019s 50% quota is that the measure is likely to benefit only women who are already in the workplace and not the millions of unemployed.<\/p>\n
There are also several occupations that do not attract enough women.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are already a number of laws promoting women empowerment and South Africa does not have the skills to fill this ambitious target,\u201d said Hern.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdded concern relates to the policing of this new law and the ongoing problem of having to monitor and enforce this legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Only half (52%)\u00a0of respondents said they would support the introduction of quotas for the number of women on the executive boards of large listed companies. This is down from 60% in 2013.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stringent new gender bill requirements could, in fact, be the main reason fewer companies want to support the introduction of quotas compared with just 12 months ago,\u201d said Hern.<\/p>\n
Gender diversity an alien concept to tech start-ups<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n