Promoting inclusion and diversity in the Middle East labor market

25 October, 2015 – Women form around 50% of the world’s population, yet their global share of board seats, and board leadership, are 12% and 4% respectively, according to a recent survey by Deloitte entitled “Women in the Boardroom”. In the MENA region, opportunities are increasing for women, however, the region is still struggling with female labor participation.

Omar Fahoum, chairman and chief executive at Deloitte Middle East spoke at the 2015 Global Employer’s Summit titled “Promoting Inclusion and Diversity – Lifting participation in the labor market,” held in Bahrain  during the first week of October. Fahoum discussed the current status of women on leadership platform, the most common practices to advance women into leadership positions in the region, and the multiple engagement strategies to create an inclusive, diverse culture at the workplace.

“Change is occurring within companies and by governments in the Middle East, but is uneven and more can be done. 50% of companies globally have not introduced yet programs aimed at supporting women in executive advancement and management retention, and 50% of governments have not taken steps to support these outcomes,” explains Fahoum. “Studies have shown the importance of board diversity in triggering more creative solutions to business problems and enhancing corporate performance and competitiveness, hence, companies in the Middle East must strive to leverage a diverse workforce to drive business results and value. To achieve that, they need to implement an integrated, holistic diversity and inclusion strategy.”

“There are several initiatives and practices taking place in the region to advance women to leadership positions, offering significant advances in how to think about the optimum level of diversity in the workplace. Fortunately, these provide companies with the opportunity to articulate the business case for diversity and to introduce more powerful approaches to maximize the collective potential of their employees and operationalize the full range of their human capital,” concluded Fahoum. 

About Deloitte:

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Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. With a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries, Deloitte brings world-class capabilities and high-quality service to clients, delivering the insights they need to address their most complex business challenges. Deloitte has in the region of 200,000 professionals, all committed to becoming the standard of excellence.

Deloitte's professionals are unified by a collaborative culture that fosters integrity, outstanding value to markets and clients, commitment to each other, and strength from cultural diversity. They enjoy an environment of continuous learning, challenging experiences, and enriching career opportunities. Deloitte's professionals are dedicated to strengthening corporate responsibility, building public trust, and making a positive impact in their communities.

About Deloitte & Touche (M.E.):

Deloitte & Touche (M.E.) is a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL) and is the first Arab professional services firm established in the Middle East region with uninterrupted presence since 1926.

Deloitte is among the region’s leading professional services firms, providing audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services through 26 offices in 15 countries with around 3,000 partners, directors and staff. It is a Tier 1 Tax advisor in the GCC region since 2010 (according to the International Tax Review World Tax Rankings). It has received numerous awards in the last few years which include Best Employer in the Middle East, best consulting firm, and the Middle East Training & Development Excellence Award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).