Germany introduces a female quota for senior corporate posts

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Grand coalition has agreed to introduce a quota for women in senior corporate positions.

Minister of Family Affairs Manuela Schwesig Wednesday said the law was an important step for equality because it would bring about a cultural change in the workplace.

The quota stipulates that 30 percent of members of boards of directors or supervisory bodies in around 100 shareholding companies in the stock market must be women.

The Social Democrat Party supported the move, which was rejected by other members of the ruling coalition formed with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany and the Christian Social Union in Bavaria.

According to the agreement reached Tuesday, senior positions will remain vacant if the number of women falls short.

Schwesig said, however, that the posts would not remain vacant, because there were a sufficient number of qualified women.