Germany to legislate 30 percent quota for women on company boards

From 2016, women must hold 30% of corporate board positions in some of Germany's biggest listed companies. The agreement on a legal quota came after talks among Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition parties in November 2014.

The proposed law was met with criticisms and concerns from the businesses that will be subject to it, including the argument that it trod on constitutional rights.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Damocles sword on female representation http://www.europeansources.info/record/damocles-sword-on-female-representation/

BBC News, 26.11.14: Germany agrees law on quotas for women on company boards http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30208400

The Local.de, 26.11.14: Women executive quota coming in 2016 http://www.thelocal.de/20141126/women-executive-quota-coming-in-2016

Euronews, 26.11.14: Germany backs quotas for women http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/26/germany-backs-quotas-for-women/

EurActiv, 27.11.14: Germany to legislate 30% women on company boards http://www.euractiv.com/sections/social-europe-jobs/germany-introduces-quota-30-women-company-boards-310373

ESO: Background information: 'Female Davos' backs women quotas on company boards http://www.europeansources.info/record/female-davos-backs-women-quotas-on-company-boards/

Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 27.11.14: Germany's women's quota only fights symptoms (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE154373-Germany-s-women-s-quota-only-fights-symptoms

The Guardian, 26.11.14: Germany backs law demanding at least 30% women in top boardrooms http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/26/germany-women-quotas-frauenquote-boardrooms

EurActiv, 03.03.15: Germany debates bill to set gender quota on corporate boards http://www.euractiv.com/sections/womens-day-special/germany-debates-bill-set-gender-quota-corporate-boards-312553

Spiegel Online International, 06.01.16: Boardroom Quotas: The Slow Pace of Gender Equality in Corporate Germany http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-firms-slowly-adjust-to-new-boardroom-quota-law-a-1070622.html

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