Maltese MEP Alfred Sant spoke in favour of the proposed ‘women-on-boards directive’ in a written vote of explanation at the European Parliament in Brussels. Dr. Sant, was commenting on the debate ‘Gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges’. In November 2012 the European Commission presented a proposal for a Directive improving the gender balance among non-executive managers of companies listed on stock exchange commonly known as Women on Boards. This was the result of a longstanding demand from Parliament asking the Commission to take action and propose a gender quota of 40% by 2020, the so called “procedural quota”.
Dr. Sant said he advocated this proposal not only for economic reasons. ‘It does not make sense for any corporation to utilise in its production only half of the machines it has available. This applies for mechanical as well as for human “machines”. Women were excluded from operational and decision-making posts for ideological reasons. These acted as barriers to entry that inhibited the full development of productive potential in societies, firms and governments.
Dr. Sant said that quotas were the tool to overcome this barrier. Once equality of gender opportunity and its effective implementation are ensured, chances for an improvement in productivity are improved. Gender quotas automatically become archive material. They have been effective at operational levels. They will be equally so for executive, decision-making positions. ‘I speak from experience.’ Said Dr. Sant.
Dr. Sant said that in Malta, the Labour Party introduced quotas for women in elections to the general conference and the national executive. Within fifteen years, quotas were no longer needed. Gender parity was being automatically achieved, via the “normal” electoral process for these institutions. There was a clear improvement in their functioning. ‘However we did not introduce quotas in the party bureau, a mistake. Dominated by men, its effectiveness remained open to question’, remarked Dr. Sant.
Maltese Version – L-ESKLUŻJONI TAN-NISA JXEKKEL L-IŻVILUPP TAS-SOĊJETA’
L-esklużjoni tan-nisa minn posizzjonijiet operazzjonali u ta’ deċiżjoni jxekkel l-iżvilupp tas-soċjeta’. Dan qalu Dr. Alfred Sant, il-Kap tad-Delegazzjoni Laburista fil-Parlament Ewropew meta tkellem favur ‘Direttiva għan-Nisa fil-Bordijiet’. Dr. Sant qal li jaqbel ma’ dil-proposta mhux għal raġunijiet ekonomiċi biss. ‘Ma jagħmilx sens għal ebda korporazzjoni li tutilizza biss nofs il-magni li jkollha għad-disposizzjoni tagħha. Dan japplika wkoll għall-‘magni umani’. In-nisa kienu qed jiġu esklużi minn posizzjonijiet operazzjonali u ta’ deċiżjoni għal raġunijiet ideoloġiċi. Dan kien qed ixekkel l-iżvilupp sħiħ ta’ soċjetajiet, ditti u gvernijiet.’ F’Novembru 2012 il-Kummissjoni Ewropea ressqet proposta għal Direttiva biex jitjieb il-bilanċ fost managers mhux-eżekuttivi magħrufa bħala ‘Women on Boards’. Dan wara talba tal-Parlament biex il-KE tipproponi kwota ta’ 40% sas-2020.
Dr. Sant qal li l-kwoti kienu l-għodda biex jagħmel tajjeb għal dax-xkiel. It-titjib fil-produttivita’ ikun żgurat bl-implimentazzjoni effettiva li s-sessi jingħataw l-istess opportunitajiet. B’hekk, wara ftit, il-kwoti jsiru affarijiet tal-passat. Dawn kienu effettivi fuq livell operattiv. Imbagħad isiru effettivi wkoll fuq posizzjonijiet eżekuttivi, fejn jittieħdu d-deċiżjonijiet.
‘Qed nitkellem mill-esperjenza.’ Qal Dr. Sant. ‘F’Malta il-Partit Laburista introduċa kwoti fl-elezzjonijiet fil-Konferenza Ġenerali u l-Eżekuttiv Nazzjonali. Wara 15-il sena, il-kwoti ma kienx hemm aktar bżonnhom. L-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi bdiet tinkiseb awtomatikament fil-proċess ‘normali’ f’dawn l-istituzzjonijiet. Kien hemm titjib fit-tħaddim tagħhom. Iżda fuq livell tal-kumitat amministrattiv tal-partit ma daħħalniex kwoti. Dan kien żball. Iddominat mill-irġiel, l-effettivita’ tal-kwoti f’dan il-livell, kienet baqgħet miftuħa għad-diskussjoni’, irrimarka Dr. Sant.
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