European Commission launches new strategy on Equal
Opportunities
A new Strategy on Equal Opportunities has been launched by the
European Commission to cover the period until 2014.
Alongside focusing on how to attract and develop a balanced and
content workforce, the strategy outlines detailed plans on how to
provide a more flexible working environment for all employees.
Targets have also been laid out, which include increasing the
number of women holding senior and middle management roles. Regular
reviews of the targets will be held and those firms that do not
manage to hit them may be asked to explain why to the Human
Resources Directorate-General.
Maroš Šefovi, Commission Vice-President for Inter-institutional
Relations and Administration, said, "We have already made
considerable progress in promoting equal opportunities in the
Commission, increasing five-fold the number of women senior
managers since 1995 and doubling the number of female middle
managers."
Šefovi also went on to say that whilst the Commission had
introduced new flexible working practices, there was still much
scope for it to improve.
"This strategy not only sets concrete goals, it will also
encourage better use of flexible working practices and aim to make
managers at all levels sensitive to the importance of equal
opportunities for the whole workforce," he added.