Published on March 01, 2023 at 5:00 am
© Cha Gonzalez
The inconsistency of many private companies makes one dizzy. Despite the creation of the “Pénicaud” index (named after the former Minister of Labor, Muriel Pénicaud), this instrument set up in 2019 to precisely measure gender inequalities in the private sector, the parity objective is very far to be reached.
In the latest index report, it thus appears that only 61% of companies responded to the “Pénicaud” index on time, 2% obtained the maximum score on the gender equality criteria, 98% have efforts to make in this area, 2,354 obtained zero on the maternity leave indicator and are therefore offences. We also learn that 32 financial penalties were applied…
“The index was designed to scale gradually”
How to explain such a situation, three years after the implementation of this system? “The reporting rate is increasing since we are at 83% to date, positive Elisabeth Borne. Companies with more than 250 employees have been punishable since last year. On the other hand, the index provides that companies with 50 to 250 employees can only be sanctioned from the results of 2023, hence the absence of sanctions for this large number of companies this year. The index was designed to scale gradually. “ The Prime Minister notes however some progress: “What we see positive is that the companies in violation are few. The primary objective is not the sanction, but that companies change their practices to achieve real equality between women and men. The labor inspectorate may have wanted to allow a little more time for the implementation of corrective measures. »
Far from considering that the battle is over, the head of government also plans a “consultation” with the social partners, in particular to update the criteria of the index. A point torments her. “For example, the increase on return from maternity leave, which is a legal obligation, is an index criterion. It’s still curious that respecting the law gives you points! “, she is indignant. And it is the Prime Minister herself who deplores it…
“A company that obtains a bad rating will be excluded from public contracts”
Another novelty announced in the “gender equality” plan which will be presented on March 8, on International Women’s Rights Day: the establishment of “equal conditionality”. This principle, which consists of linking all State aid to the index, to the fact that it presents an exemplary joint balance sheet, will henceforth be applied. “That’s what we’re going to go,” assures us Elisabeth Borne. A company that does not provide information on gender equality or that obtains a poor rating will be excluded from public contracts by the end of the five-year term. »
Until now kept away from this instrument of measurement and control, the public service is not left out. “As of next summer, the professional equality index will be implemented in the State civil service. It will also be extended in 2024 to the territorial and hospital public service, with the same system of sanctions”, continues the Prime Minister.
> The rest of this exclusive interview to be found online from Wednesday evening and on newsstands from Thursday.
