'Women a majority in govt positions'

The percentage of women employed in government positions across all salary levels totals 54.76%, the Businesswomen's Association (BWA) said today. The official results of the women in corporate leadership census were announced by BWA chief executive Yvette Montalbano at a presentation at Nedbank's head office in Sandton.

In a statement, the association said the 2008 census was the first time in its five year existence that the governmental sector had been included.

"In spite of these encouraging figures, a huge disparity still exists in terms of salary levels as male civil servants or men in government still earn far more than their female counterparts at senior management level," the BWA said.

The census revealed that government's advancement of women in terms of employment equity was higher than in other sectors traditionally measured in the census, namely JSE-listed companies and State owned enterprises.

Women still lagging behind men
On the corporate side, the census showed that although there had been a steady increase in the employment of women in top executive positions, women were still lagging behind their male counterparts within corporate South Africa.

Montalbano also said that the BWA remained "adamant" that a split along racial lines, as advocated last year by the Employment Equity Commission, would not help its cause as women of all races and colours continued to be discriminated against and overlooked in corporate South Africa.

BWA president Basetsana Kumalo said the association was encouraged by the public sector which had demonstrated how true gender equality should be achieved.

She said although salary levels were still disproportionate, accolades needed to go to the government for believing in South Africa's women and providing them with opportunities for career growth and self development.

A detailed analysis of government data, as at September 30, 2007, showed that the number of women in government across all salary levels totalled 649 718 compared to 536 688 men.

Montalbano highlighted that the biggest disparity in government was prevalent when looking at salary levels. – Sapa