European companies develop Diversity initiatives outside Europe

In order to increase the number of employees from under-represented groups or from emerging markets, European companies undertake Diversity initiatives in their subsidiaries outside Europe. Two large companies listed in the Stoxx 50, ABB and Imperial Tobacco, serve as examples for activities in the MEA region (Middle East & Africa). “Emerging markets are key to the future of business and diversity is key to being successful in these regions”, says Diversity expert Michael Stuber welcoming these moves.
Imperial Tobacco organized an event at their Moroccan subsidiary, SociĂ©tĂ© Marocaine des Tabacs (SMT), hosted by General Manager Paul Leggat and his senior managers, in order to mark International Women’s Day and especially to celebrate the contribution made by their female employees. Currently women represent about 12% of the workforce at SMT and 23% of management roles. Through the event, Imperial Tobacco aims at encouraging more women to seek a position in currently under-represented areas, including industrial and commercial departments. ABB has launched diversity initiatives in their subsidiaries in India, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia throughout 2012. In India and Saudi Arabia, a number of local and corporate-level initiatives were established focussing on gender equality. In accordance to the labour law, ABB for the first time offered Saudi women jobs and internships in Saudi Arabia. In India, a number of programs have been launched to strengthen the presence of women in executive, functional and factory roles. The programmes include a workshop aiming to increase the line managers’ understanding of the business value of diversity and inclusion. Other examples in India included efforts to raise the number of women on the shop floor, the number of women in interview pipelines and enabling more women to work by opening child care centres. In South Africa, ABB provided training for all employees in order to increase the awareness for disabilities and the necessity to integrate disabled people in the workforce.
ABB and Imperial Tobacco hence serve as examples for the increasing prevalence and growing importance of Diversity and Inclusion also in emerging markets.