Women

WOMEN AND GENDER EQUALITY

DP World is strongly committed to the empowerment of women and gender equality within its global CSR strategy. We believe in the added value women can bring to the workplace and are trying to shake things up in the traditionally male port sector with a number of initiatives under the name “DP World 4 Women”.

DP World in Antwerp employs around 750 people, approximately half of whom are dock workers. Among the office workers, 37% are women, while barely 1% of the dock workers are women, who are mainly employed as tally clerks or straddle carrier drivers. There are no women among the technicians. In recent years, DP World has taken the following initiatives in this area:

• A global Gender Equality Statement aimed at actively promoting gender equality in the company
• Working groups on inclusion (DP World 4 Women) to connect, inspire, and support women and men and work towards greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• Involvement with the “Maritieme Madammen” (“maritime madams”), a network for female professionals at the Port of Antwerp, which still a traditionally male bastion
• Support for initiatives aiming to make a difference in the lives of young people and offering greater opportunities to young women: in 2020, sponsor of the girls’ activities of the City Pirates, an Antwerp-based football club with an active social commitment

“The most difficult step, the fight against unconscious bias – the typical but unconscious prejudices of men and women – is yet to be taken. We must also ensure that women do not start to conform to male norms. This would lead to the company missing out on the different approaches and perspectives that women can offer.”

An Moons, Director Risk & Legal and Sponsor of DP World 4 Women Antwerp

A FAMILY-FRIENDLY COMPANY

In September 2019, DP World was the 100th company in Belgium to sign Gezinsbond’s “Charter for a family-friendly company”. By signing this charter, we commit to taking measures to better reconcile work and family life and to develop new initiatives in the future. The following actions have already been implemented:

• Flexible working hours and the possibility of changing working hours
• The option of remote working for certain jobs
• Flexible allocation of leave arrangements and days according to parental leave or school holidays
• Organizing family trips and events
• Open day at the terminal for family members every other year
• Employees receive a gift on the occasion of a birth or marriage
• Family news is reported in the staff magazine

DP World is open to new initiatives and ideas from its employees regarding family-friendly working, and endeavors to keep its finger on the pulse in this area. The home working policy, for example, has been considerably expanded on the basis of the insights and experiences gained during the pandemic; this means that, now and in the future, up to 50% of working hours may be worked from home in jobs where this is possible. If new ideas emerge that are realistic, feasible and socially acceptable, we will certainly consider them.