08 Mar 2018

At least 24 per cent of leadership roles in businesses globally are held by women, according to Grant Thornton 2018 survey.

Speaking at the press briefing prior to the International Women’s Day on March 8, Grant Thornton’s senior partner, Mrs Anjana Suresh said the survey showed a one per cent decline from 2017, something she said was disturbing, saying if there was no ongoing efforts and commitment to promote gender, age and ethnic diversity in the workplace, it could drastically drop.

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women to help accelerate action for gender diversity.

She further said it was pleasing to learn that the International Business Report (IBR) 2018 survey indicated that 40 per cent of businesses globally believed that diversity was important in business success and 14 per cent  of businesses had specific plans in place to improve the diversity of their senior teams.

The report however indicated key obstacles that needed change to a greater gender equality such as equal pay for both genders in the same role, paid parental leave and non-discrimination policies for recruitment for both genders.

These obstacles, the report said  could however be championed by business leadership, policies put in place and culture surrounding gender diversity in the workplace in senior roles.

While at the press briefing Mr Vijay Kalyanaraman, also  Grant Thornton senior partner, stated that Selebi Phikwe Enetrprise Development Unit’s regional development had approved income tax incentives for Selibe-Phikwe region business operators.

He explained that the five per cent income tax concession for business operators would help boost businesses in the region.ENDS