Women make their entry in the AfepMedef code

Women make their entry in the Afep-Medef code. Yesterday, the Presidents of the French Association of private companies and the movement of companies France, Maurice Lévy and Laurence Parisot, announced that ce listed companies corporate governance code now includes a "recommendation" to strengthen women's presence in the boards of Directors and supervision of companies listed on the SBF 120. "The objective is that each Council reach and maintain a percentage of at least 20 of women within a period of three years and at least 40 of women within a period of six years from the publication of this recommendation" indicates the new section of the code. "Medef was for a recommendation for some time and, upon his arrival in the Afep, Maurice Lévy elected in February, Editor's note intended to be an important point, welcomed Laurence Parisot." May not like the quota approach, but there is a time where only an obligation, by boost, to unblock a situation.

According to figures published in March by the firm of financial analyses SFV research, the CAC 40 had to this date 65 women on 584 administrators in total, or a proportion of 11.1, placing the France tail of platoon in European countries. The first threshold of 20 should not be too difficult to achieve. According to a count by the Afep, the share of women in the Councils should rise 15.7 at the end of June, at the end of the General meetings companies. 23 appointments of women were in fact recently announced, note the employers ' organisation.

"Impulse" followed by effects

Female participation rates and times selected by the employers have not been random: they correspond to those adopted in January last the members in the legislative proposal presented by Jean-François Copé and Marie - Jo Zimmermann (UMP). "I felt a desire to move forward, it is a not further that I do that salute, a respect for women and Parliament welcomed this last yesterday. Bill will be provided subject to the order of the day and given impetus. "Remains to know the fate of the Bill. In the Senate, Marie-Hélène Esgaulx (UMP) was appointed Rapporteur of the text, but the inclusion in the agenda has not yet been requested. However the text of the National Assembly goes further than the recommendation of the Afep-Medef code: it includes, for non-compliance of the quota for women, the nullity of the appointments of administrators and even, in some cases, the nullity of the proceedings. "It is up to Parliament to decide if it wants to maintain its text, but since we made this decision, the Act was to be." "There are better than penalties: when it is not a rule, it should be discussed in an annual report", j. Maurice Lévy. "Part of the UMP will exert pressure so that it does not discuss the text," provides the PS Nicole Bricq Senator, including a draft law on the same theme but up to limit the accumulation of mandates of Directors will be debated on 29 April.