New legislation to improve gender diversity on corporate boards

The campaign and resulting legislation put an end to the ‘old boys’ club’ culture in boardroom appointments. That is good news for equality of opportunity and for the companies themselves, because diversity in the boardroom ensures better management. The general goal of the Dutch emancipation policies is to promote equal rights, equal opportunities, equal liberties and (shared) responsibilities for women. An appointment quota to improve gender diversity on corporate boards has been adopted. This is necessary because the results achieved by the business community on increasing diversity in the boardroom have been lagging behind the targets for years. Organisations and companies cannot afford to focus on only half of the talent available in the Netherlands. This legislation, which really should not have been necessary, will push the business community to make a much stronger effort on increasing diversity.