The REWE Group has joined the Women’s Empowerment Principles, a UN initiative, and commits itself to empowering women within the company and in society at large. By signing the seven principles, the REWE Group pledges to continue to support gender equality in the workplace and to achieve this by implementing specific and measurable policies.
Lionel Souque, CEO of the REWE Group, says “The systematic disadvantage faced by women is still present in many industries. This is not only unacceptable from a social perspective; mixed-gendered teams are proven to be more successful from a business perspective and to have a positive impact on the culture of the entire company. At the REWE Group, women’s empowerment in the workplace and in society includes issues such as equal pay, a balanced gender ratio in leadership positions, and a good work-life balance. We are putting particular emphasis on identifying and overcoming the specific areas where we have yet to fully achieve these goals in practice at our company. We want to create visibility and the right framework for more diversity in identities and skills.”
In 2019, women made up about 67% of the entire REWE Group workforce while occupying about 46% of all leadership roles. The REWE Group has set itself the goal of achieving a balanced gender ratio in leadership positions (managers and senior management) by 2025.
The Women’s Empowerment Principles are a joint initiative established by UN Women and UN Global Compact. They are guided by the international labour and human rights standards, the gender equality dimensions of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and its sustainable development goals. These include equal pay for work of equal value, gender-specific policies for the advancement of women, and zero-tolerance of sexual harassment in the workplace.