Germany: female quotas now mandatory in corporate management bodies

The editorial team is offering you free access to this article
Start your free 1-month trial to access all our content

On 12 August, and following a year in which large listed companies (> 2,000 employees) subject to co-determination laws (c.f. article No.12603) were given time to freely adjust to the new provisions, the German law imposing female quotas for management bodies finally came into force. Going forward, non-compliant companies risk fines ranging between €50,000 and €10 million, or in other words the matter of female representation is being taken seriously. Indeed engine manufacturer Deutz recently decided to reshape its four-person management team, relieving its CEO Frank Hiller of his duties and appointing Petra Mayer as Director of Production. The legislation does however that the company can wait until a male management body member’s contract comes to its end before replacing the position with a female. Between the vote on the text in 2021 and spring 2022, female management body representation in the companies concerned has risen from 15% to 20%, with more than half of the new female appointments coming from internal promotions.

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: the consulting, engineering and digital sector (Betic) supports companies in their environmental transition
The news. Fédération Cinov, which represents consulting and engineering professions (1.2 million employees), signed a sector-wide agreement on July 9, 2026, concerning...
11 September 2026
AI: uneven integration but a global challenge for the world of work
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in business is profoundly transforming the world of work, and some occupations are now under threat. However, the full extent of its effects remains...
France: Cabinet adopts pay transparency bill
After several months of delay beyond the European deadline of 7 June 2026, French Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou finally presented the bill transposing the Pay Transparency Directive to the...
10 September 2026
France: bioMérieux strengthens its end-of-career support measures
The news. In vitro diagnostic specialist bioMérieux (4,400 employees in France) and unions CFDT, CFE-CGC, and CGT signed a new agreement on June 18, 2026, dedicated to end-of-career...
10 September 2026
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
United Kingdom: government launches consultation on AI and data protection rules
L’info. Le gouvernement britannique a lancé, du 15 juillet au 9 septembre 2026, une consultation afin d’identifier les dispositifs juridiques, techniques et de gouvernance...
28 August 2026
2
EU: social partners set out position on guidelines for the sustainability due diligence directive
The news. Following the final adoption of the omnibus directive in February, the European Commission launched a consultation in June aimed at guiding it in drafting guidelines on the application...
28 August 2026
3
Import bans on forced labor products are multiplying
Under pressure from new US tariffs, many countries have presented texts in recent weeks to ban the import of products made with forced labor. A real breakthrough for workers' rights or a mere...
9 September 2026
4
Canada: a sustainability due diligence proposal on forced labour submitted for consultation
The facts. On July 27, the Canadian government launched a consultation to introduce mandatory corporate due diligence measures regarding forced labor. It plans to require risk identification, the...
25 August 2026
5
Germany: a “simplification” proposal for the Corporate Governance Code
In early August, the Government Commission presented proposals to reform the Deutscher Corporate Governance Kodex (DCGK), Germany’s Corporate Governance Code. The proposals are primarily aimed at...
31 August 2026
6
Slovakia: a bill to “clarify” personal data protection measures
The news. The Slovak government approved a bill on personal data protection on August 26, 2026. This text aims to clarify existing regulations regarding employees’ rights and...
7 September 2026