Paris authorities fined nearly Rs 81 lakh for employing 'too many' women in top posts; 'unfair, absurd', says Mayor

Paris: Paris city hall has been fined 90,000 euros (nearly Rs 81 lakh) for having appointed too many women to top positions in 2018, in breach of a law aimed at ensuring gender balance. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo denounced the fine as “unfair” and “absurd” on Tuesday during a meeting of the city council.

11 femmes, 5 hommes... La Ville de Paris a été condamnée à 90.000 euros d'amende parce que trop de femmes directrices ont été nommées.

Avec mes adjointes, les directrices et les présidentes de groupe, nous irons donc porter ce chèque à la Ministre de la Fonction publique. pic.twitter.com/yMDAeH86eS

— Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) December 15, 2020

In 2018, 11 women and 5 men — who represent just over 30 percent — were appointed to top positions in the Paris city hall, leading the Civil Service Ministry to impose the fine. A 2013 law, meant to ensure that women get better access to senior jobs in the civil service, requires a minimum of 40 percent of appointments for each gender. Since then, the law has been changed to provide for exceptions to nominations when the gender balance is respected overall. In Paris city hall, 47 percent of all civil servants in senior positions are women. “Yes, we need to promote women with determination and vigor because everywhere, France is still lagging behind (on that issue),” Hidalgo said.