The Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act was signed into law on Thursday by President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone.
The law intends to combat gender inequality and, in particular, the insecure employment of women in the nation of West Africa.
It establishes a 30% quota of positions that must be held by women in both the public and commercial sectors. To avoid abusing the spirit of the reform by exploiting low-level employees, the quota also applies to management positions.
The law also promises equal pay for equal work to women and 14 weeks of paid maternity leave. The maximum fine for employers who break the law is 50,000 leones ($2,600, €2,400) per offense.
“We, men, have yet to see or acknowledge women’s rightful position fully, and this law will give us tools to correct that.
“We must end the impunity or violence against women in elections and public life and punish all persons and entities found guilty of such violence,” Bio said in his speech.
Women are also underrepresented in politics, with only 18 seats in the 146-seat parliament being held by women and with only four women present in Bio’s 32-member cabinet
