Poland to mandate at least 33% women on company boards

Poland's cabinet approved a draft law to implement the EU Women on Boards directive, requiring listed companies to ensure that women hold at least 33% and no more than 49% of seats on boards and supervisory bodies. The proposal, adopted on June 9, will now move to the Sejm. It also obliges firms to publish recruitment criteria, run career‑development programmes and adopt gender‑balance policies, with a preference for female candidates when qualifications are equal.

The business lobby Confederation Lewiatan welcomes the aim of closing the gender‑pay gap but warns that many provisions are vague, potentially creating costly administrative and reporting burdens for firms. Nadia Winiarska of Lewiatan called for a longer transition period of up to 12 months, clearer definitions of wage‑gap calculations and more proportionate obligations. Anna Sirocka of the Foundation of Women Leaders noted that the rules are not a breakthrough but a formalisation of an ongoing market trend.