Denmark has presented a new
initiative aimed at increasing the share of women in Danish shipping companies.
initiative aimed at increasing the share of women in Danish shipping companies.
Today, the first fourteen
shipping companies will sign a charter that obliges them to actively focus on
gender equality, Danish Shipping, a trade and employer organization for more
than 90 shipowners and offshore companies, said.
shipping companies will sign a charter that obliges them to actively focus on
gender equality, Danish Shipping, a trade and employer organization for more
than 90 shipowners and offshore companies, said.
As informed, the distribution of
workers employed in Danish shipping companies is just under 20,000 men versus
just over 3,000 women.
workers employed in Danish shipping companies is just under 20,000 men versus
just over 3,000 women.
“That is an uneven distribution
that needs to be changed,” according to Danish Shipping, which has initiated
the charter.
that needs to be changed,” according to Danish Shipping, which has initiated
the charter.
“We have a major challenge in
recruiting labour to the Blue Denmark. Right now, we are simply missing out on
half the talent pool unless we can attract more women,” Anne H. Steffensen,
Danish Shipping’s Director General and CEO, commented.
recruiting labour to the Blue Denmark. Right now, we are simply missing out on
half the talent pool unless we can attract more women,” Anne H. Steffensen,
Danish Shipping’s Director General and CEO, commented.
“We are trying to address this
and will make an effort to get more women on board together with the shipping
companies. I am pleased with the great support for the initiative and for the
fact that the Minister for Equal Opportunities, Mogens Jensen is leading the
way today.”
and will make an effort to get more women on board together with the shipping
companies. I am pleased with the great support for the initiative and for the
fact that the Minister for Equal Opportunities, Mogens Jensen is leading the
way today.”
Specifically, the new charter
obliges the shipping companies among other things to devise a strategy or plan
to increase the proportion of women in the company and describe and put forward
initiatives to support it.
obliges the shipping companies among other things to devise a strategy or plan
to increase the proportion of women in the company and describe and put forward
initiatives to support it.
The companies are also required to develop and set
targets for the proportion of women in the company and appoint a member of top
management to be responsible for the action.
targets for the proportion of women in the company and appoint a member of top
management to be responsible for the action.
“The shipping companies
themselves choose how they will organise the action. They run very different
businesses and their starting points are different. Therefore, we will not try
to push them to reach one specific goal,” Danish Shipping’s CEO explained.
themselves choose how they will organise the action. They run very different
businesses and their starting points are different. Therefore, we will not try
to push them to reach one specific goal,” Danish Shipping’s CEO explained.
“But we have a goal as to the
number of shipping companies joining the charter. When we enter 2021, 75
percent of the shipping companies, which represent 75 percent of the employees,
should have signed.”
number of shipping companies joining the charter. When we enter 2021, 75
percent of the shipping companies, which represent 75 percent of the employees,
should have signed.”
Gender equality in the maritime
industry has become a prominent theme over the past months.
industry has become a prominent theme over the past months.
In 2019, the International
Maritime Organization (IMO), together with the World Maritime University (WMU),
was raising awareness of the importance of gender equality with the “Empowering
Women in the Maritime Community” theme.
Maritime Organization (IMO), together with the World Maritime University (WMU),
was raising awareness of the importance of gender equality with the “Empowering
Women in the Maritime Community” theme.
A series of events were held to
highlight the contribution of women to the maritime sector.
highlight the contribution of women to the maritime sector.
World Maritime News.
