In recognition of the bank’s commitment to workplace gender equality, DBS Bank has been named to the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI) for the third year running.
Besides having a robust female leadership and talent pipeline, gender pay parity, and an inclusive culture, the bank also demonstrated its strong support for gender equality through its disclosure practices and transparency.
“The diversity of our people is a powerful performance lever. In a world where women continue to be underrepresented, we have been focused on building a respectful and inclusive workplace that provides equal opportunity and growth," said DBS CEO Piyush Gupta.
He added that women at DBS Singapore comprise 60 per cent of its workforce, 40 per cent of the company's senior management and a third of our Group Management Committee.
"[They] have been a key driving force behind the bank’s performance. Being named to the index for the third consecutive year is an important achievement for us, as it underscores our commitment to gender equality, which is key to sustainable development.
DBS said in a press statement that its policies are designed to help empower women employees in the workplace. They include flexible time arrangement, sabbatical leave arrangement and maternity leave.
On the hiring front, DBS has been recruiting more female talent in technology – an area that is conventionally male-dominated – through targeted hackathons. The DBS Foundation also supports and funds numerous social enterprises that empower disadvantaged women and girls.
"The 325 companies included in the 2020 GEI have shown their commitment to transparency and demonstrated leadership in gender-related data reporting," said Peter T. Grauer, Chairman of Bloomberg. "Disclosure of company statistics and practices is an important first step in supporting gender equality globally."
This year, Bloomberg expanded the eligibility for inclusion in the index to nearly 6,000 companies across 84 countries and regions. Companies that made the index cut across various industries, including automotive, banking, consumer services, engineering and construction, and retail.