These days, in Germany there is a lively discussion about
women’s quota in major enterprises. The facts are clear: in most
German businesses, especially in leadership positions, women are
still underrepresented. Only 13 percent of the boards of
directors of the 30 leading firms in Germany are women. Many
politicians believe it is not enough that political parties or
private businesses establish self-made women’s quotas for their
organizations. They claim that there must be a regulation to
ensure an appropriate proportion of women in big businesses.
Thus, Germany should again win the leadership among the
international competition. For comparison, Norway adopted the
women’s quota for boards of directors in 2003. Spain followed in
2007 with a similar regulation. France took the step on January
13, 2011. However, the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel,
recently declared that there will not be a women’s quota in
Germany, since it would not be enforceable anyway. Rumors are
circulating that she decided this way b