Women in company authorities: EU Directive getting closer, Poland late

raportcsr.pl 3 weeks ago

By 30 June 2026, the largest listed companies in the European Union will gotta increase women's participation in boards and supervisory boards. The request introduces the EU Women on Boards Directive. In Poland, the fresh regulations will cover over 100 companies listed on the WSE, but presently only a tiny part of them meets the planned criteria – Newseria Biznes informs.

The Women on Boards Directive will force changes in stock companies

The EU Women on Boards Directive provides for increased representation of women in the authorities of the largest public companies throughout the European Union. By 30 June 2026, regulated companies will gotta scope 1 of 2 levels of female participation:

at least 40% of non-executive directors, i.e. in supervisory boards,
either 33% of all management posts – on both boards and supervisory boards.

The fresh government concerns listed companies employing at least 250 employees and having a turnover of over EUR 50 million or a balance sheet full exceeding EUR 43 million.

Mr Michał Wawrykiewicz, associate of the European Parliament for the European People's organization (Civil Coalition) emphasises that regulation is essential due to the fact that the natural pace of change is besides slow.
– It is the right course to warrant women seats on boards and supervisory boards by law. We've seen over the last fewer decades that it's not happening. Women have more hard access to a certain level of hierarchical career due to many circumstances, so if, as a society in the European Union, we have not been able to do so naturally, then we should aid legislatively – says.

The remainder of the text is under the interview of Newseria Business

Over 100 companies from the WSE covered by the fresh requirements

According to the Business Leaders Foundation data, among companies from the largest indices of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, most will gotta adapt to fresh regulations.

In indexes WIG20, mWIG40 and sWIG80 rod 76.4% of companies meets the employment and financial performance criteria set out in the Directive. This means that the regulation will include 107 companies:

all companies in the WIG20 index,
34 companies with mWIG40,
53 companies from sWIG80.

Z report by the Foundation of Business Leaders „Women in the authorities of listed companies in Poland. Where are we after 10 years?” However, it is clear that presently only a tiny part of companies meet the requirements of the planned Polish law.

In 2024, women were:

13.6 percent of board members,
18.7 percent of supervisory board members.

At the same time, over 60% of companies did not have a single female on the board. While women's participation in company boards is gradually increasing, the pace of change remains insufficient.

– There's a lot more ahead of us. I believe that the directive will be rapidly introduced in Poland and that we will be able to catch up with EU trends – says Michał Wawrykiewicz.

Poland late to implement the Directive

The deadline for implementing the Directive into national government expired in December 2024. However, Poland has inactive not adopted a law implementing fresh regulations.

The task prepared by the Ministry of Justice is presently at the phase of government work. This means that companies covered by the Directive will have comparatively small time to adapt to the fresh requirements before June 2026.

Greater participation of women to support economical development

According to experts, a greater presence of women on boards and supervisory boards can positively influence the improvement of the economy and the quality of company management.

– This will have a very affirmative impact on the functioning of economies in the European Union and the economy in Poland. The competence of women entering supervisory boards, boards and another business management bodies would benefit Polish economics, says Michał Wawrykiewicz.

Discrimination and pay gap inactive a barrier for women

Labour marketplace investigation shows that women inactive face many barriers to career development. study Hays Poland “Women on the labour marketplace 2025”, based on an opinion of over 3.5 000 LinkedIn users, it appears that sex bias and discrimination stay the biggest problem. It pointed to them. 46% of respondents.

Further barriers are:

wage gap – 22 percent,
inflexible working rules – 20%,
lack of support in professional improvement – 12%.

According to the latest Eurostat data, the wage gap in the European Union was 2024 11.1 percent. In Poland, the difference in salaries of women and men in the same positions is about 4% in favour of men.

– There are many barriers which, unfortunately, make women much harder on their professional path. Motherhood itself is simply a natural barrier and very many women do not decide to return to the labour marketplace after this period, which adversely affects the functioning of this marketplace due to the fact that many competences are simply not used. I believe that, due to these disparities and inequalities, it is systemic solutions that request to be addressed by legislation. – Michał Wawrykiewicz convinces.

Source: Newseria Business