Government publishes database of talented women for top jobs

A database featuring 295 women considered good candidates for top jobs in industry is being published by education minister Jet Bussemaker and employers’ organisation VNO-NCW on Wednesday.

The database is in response to complaints that there are not enough qualified women around to serve on the supervisory boards at the 200 biggest Dutch companies.

Progress in boosting the number of women in top jobs in the Netherlands is being made at a snail’s pace, Bussemaker is quoted as saying by news agency ANP. ‘We are being overtaken left and right,’ she said in a statement.

The government’s target is to ensure 30% of supervisory and executive board members are female by 2016 but the figure is currently around 10%. ‘This register should create awareness and remove blind spots,’ the minister said.

Without serious effort, the introduction of quotas remains an option, Bussemaker said. ‘I’m not in favour of [quotas] but I will not rule out using them. Time is running out.’

The ANP report does not state how the list of potential female bosses was compiled.