5 February 2020: 5th Workers' Voice Breakfast

Diversity in boards a precondition of sustainable governance and its importance for the ’Green Deal‘

Gender equality is an important goal of the European Union and represents one of its core values. Although the EU has been working on realizing gender equality in practice, much is left to do, especially when it comes to representation of women in companies and politics. Only 16% of company decision-makers on executive level are women. Overall, women compromise 33% of board members in STOXX Europe 600 companies. However, the level of representation of women varies between countries. What is more, a variation is visible between executive and non-executives.

Sustainable corporate governance entails diversity in executive and supervisory boards, including appropriate representation of women. Studies have shown that companies striving for more equality in the top management perform economically better. What is more, there are indications for positive effects on the overall economy as well as society. We would like to discuss political options on national and European level to
support women in boards and linkages to Workers’ Voice in the context of sustainable governance.

We are convinced that gender equality can be reached only if workers are involved and transformation of the economy is shaped in common.

Invitation: Workers’ Voice Breakfast, 05. February 2020 (pdf)

Theses: Diversity in boards a precondition of sustainable governance and its importance for the ’Green Deal‘ (pdf)