Illustrative photo (Photo: pids.gov.ph) Hanoi (VNA) – A recent survey byLondon-based Grant Thornton - a global accounting group - shows that thePhilippines takes the top spot among 28 countries in a ranking of thepercentage of women in senior management.
According to the group’s annual survey, 43% of the senior management positions at Philippine companies are held by women. Threeother Southeast Asian nations placed in the top 10 including Thailand, No. 3;Malaysia, No. 7; and Indonesia, No. 10.
The survey, based on interviews conducted inthe final quarter of 2023, covers 4,891 midsize companies from Asia, Europe,and the Americas, 90% of which have between 50 and 2,500 employees. It definessenior management roles as positions ranging from CEOs and chief operatingofficers to board members and finance chiefs.
The Philippines often sits at or near the topof the survey, now in its 20th year. It was No. 2 in 2023, No. 4 in 2022, andNo. 1 in 2021 and 2020.
Tomoko Tashiro, a manager in marketingcommunication at Grant Thornton Japan, explained that the position is a resultof the Philippines' early efforts to address gender issues, including the MagnaCarta of Women Act of 2009, which guarantees women economic and social rights.
In Thailand, women held 41% of seniormanagement positions, a 4-point improvement from the previous year as morewomen became chief marketing officers and sales directors. According to GrantThornton, Thai companies have been hiring more female business leaders since2011 when Yingluck Shinawatra became the country's first female primeminister.
As for other Asia-Pacific nations, Australiaranked eighth while the Republic of Korea ranked 27th and Japan ranked 28th,which demonstrates the male dominance in those societies.
Globally, the female share of managementpositions has reached 33% for four years in a row./.
