Coalition basically agrees on a quota for women on executive boards

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Federal Minister of Women Franziska Giffey

Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa

The project of Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht and Federal Family Minister Franziska Giffey (both SPD) was long controversial in the coalition: Now the black-red coalition has basically agreed on a binding quota for women on executive boards.

A similar quota already applies to supervisory boards.

Justice Minister Lambrecht announced on Friday after the working group set up by the coalition committee had reached an agreement on this issue on boards of listed companies with equal co-determination and with more than three members.

For companies with a majority stake by the federal government, a supervisory board quota of at least 30 percent and a minimum participation in executive boards have been agreed.

A minimum participation is also to be introduced for corporations under public law such as health insurances and pension and accident insurance institutions as well as the Federal Employment Agency.

The result is to be presented to the coalition leaders for a final decision next week.

Then the draft goes into departmental coordination.

A cabinet decision should be made promptly.

Several members of the Union had previously rejected the quota - above all Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU).

Recently, CSU boss Markus Söder surprisingly spoke out in favor of it.

Quota achieved - with perseverance and persuasiveness

Giffey was delighted with the agreement that she reached with many committed women from civil society, business, science and culture - "with perseverance and a lot of persuasiveness." Giffey continued: "This breakthrough is historic.

We put an end to women-free boardrooms in large companies. «The quota is necessary" because nothing is done voluntarily and we need guidelines in order to move forward. "

State Minister Annette Widmann-Mauz, head of the Women's Union, said that today's agreement has cleared an important hurdle for the second management position law: "Mixed teams are a recipe for success - not only in times of crisis."

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