Why are so few women in the Netherlands reaching top positions in business? This is the question being debated in the Lower House today after Labour MP Paul Kalma put forward proposals to boost women’s careers.

Mr Kalma would like to see a target figure of 30 percent introduced in companies with more than 250 employees. In spite of the voluntary basis of the measure, it would be subject to scrutiny. “Companies that don’t employ women in top jobs should have to explain why.”
 
The debate about introducing quotas for women in business boardrooms and positions of authority has been going on for some time in the Netherlands in the press and in chat shows.

Lagging behind
With only around six percent of women in top positions, the Netherlands is lagging behind other European countries. In fact female participation in the workplace is at the same level as in Pakistan.

At the end of September more than 200 prominent women handed a manifesto to the Upper and Lower Houses, calling for a 40 percent quota to be met by 2014. They say little has changed in the last ten years, in spite of declarations, charters, networks, taskforces and awareness campaigns. The most optimistic prediction is  currently 12 percent women in top jobs by the year 2035.
 
Knock-on effect
Norway introduced a 40 percent quota in January 2008 for women on boards of directors and supervisory boards. The knock-on effect is that many more women are now in employed in management functions.

When Sweden introduced target figures, the number of women who made it into the boardroom rose to almost 30 percent. Great Britain, Germany, Belgium and Denmark are looking to follow suit.

Resistance
There is a great deal of resistance to introducing quotas. One of the arguments against quotas is that multinationals will be put off settling in the Netherlands if absurd demands are made on them. But  a report by Consultancy McKinsey found that businesses led by both men and women do better than ones that don’t.

Another popular argument is that women just aren’t that ambitious and like to combine child-rearing with a part-time job. However, documentary-maker Liset Hammings says they just don’t have the choice, without a raft of measures women will never make it to the top. FNV chairperson Agnes Jongerius believes a quota is the only way to break through the glass ceiling.

KPN
KPN boss Ad Scheepbouwer has decided not to wait for new legislation. He has announced opening vacancies to female candidates only at the telecom company. At the moment only 17 percent of the top positions are filled by women and 23 percent of the staff are female.

Now appears to be the time for women to break out of their traditional role and do away with the old boy's network once and for all. Female participation at the top could be the answer to the aging workforce and the economic crisis. With a little help, of course.