The administration of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva plans to introduce a quota policy to favour women in senior positions in state-owned companies.
The initial proposal is to establish minimum quotas for women’s participation on company boards. Lula’s administration has already begun negotiations with several state-owned companies to implement the measure.
Aimed at promoting gender equality in the corporate environment, the proposal reflects Lula government’s commitment to equal opportunities. Lula has appointed a record-setting number of women to his cabinet, enacted an equal pay law, and reinstated many of the protections for women scrapped by his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.
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According to a ministry survey, the representation of women in management positions in state-owned companies has already increased under Lula. At the end of his predecessor’s administration, the proportion of women in management was 14 percent but by the end of Lula’s first year in office, in December 2023, that figure had risen to nearly 21.5 percent.
The introduction of a minimum quota for women in leadership positions in Brazilian state-owned companies aims to ensure more balanced and diverse representation, contributing to a more inclusive and representative organisational culture.
In addition to these laudable social benefits, research points to clear economic benefits of bringing more women into C-suites. Studies have shown that having more women in senior positions benefits firms, including making them more profitable, more socially responsible, and providing safer, higher-quality customer experiences.
