The government’s gender equality policy is aimed at companies listed on the top-tier Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Currently, only 2.2 per cent meet the goal. Japan ranks 104th out of 190 in the World Bank's ranking of economic opportunities for women.
Tokyo (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Japan wants more than 30 per cent of board members in companies listed on the top-tier Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange to be women, this according to a policy draft by the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida designed to promote gender equality and empower women in the workplace.
In July 2022, 18.7% of companies listed on the Prime Market had no female board member, the Cabinet Office said, while companies with over 30 per cent of executive roles filled by women were only 2.2 per cent.
The proposals announced by the Council for Gender Equality will be reflected in upcoming economic and fiscal policy bills, which the government is expected to approve by the end of this month.
Gender inequality is entrenched in Japan’s workplace. A report released by the World Bank in March ranked the country 104th out of 190 when it comes to economic opportunities for women, while the World Economic Forum's gender gap ranking in 2022 places it in 116th position among 146 countries.
In order to enhance women's career opportunities, the Kishida administration wants companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime Market to appoint at least one female board member by 2025.
Photo: Flickr/Yoshimitsu Kurooka