Garanti BBVA repeats in Bloomberg’s Gender Equality Index for the sixth time
BBVA’s Turkish unit recently became the only company in the country to be included in Bloomberg’s Gender Equality Index for the 6th consecutive year. The bank was recognized for its social and economic empowerment of women, its promotion of women’s participation in decision-making mechanisms and its efforts to achieve gender equality in professional and personal life. As a result, the bank’s score rose from 78.56 last year to 88.56 this year.
"We are proud to be included in such a prestigious platform for the sixth time in a row,” said Garanti BBVA CEO Recep Bastug. He stressed that the bank strives to create a diverse and inclusive culture, serving as an example of social development and gender equality in the business world. “We have been working continuously both internally and externally for many years to raise awareness of gender equality in order to have a positive social impact,” he added.
Bloomberg’s Gender Equality Index assesses a variety of criteria including practices regarding female talent and women in leadership roles; equal pay for women and men; company practices to support employees with children; education initiatives for female entrepreneurs; discrimination policies; and the prevention of violence. Among Garanti BBVA’s high scores, the bank stands out for its equal pay policy, gender balance in senior positions, diversity and inclusion projects, and community investment programs.
Garanti BBVA’s CEO called attention to the fact that 56 percent of all employees are women, and 40 percent of all middle and senior management positions are held by women. “We evaluate our male and female employees in all human resources processes without discrimination. Our promotion and salary policies are based entirely on performance, and we ensure that the average wages of male and female employees are equal,” he emphasized. In addition, in 2006, the bank launched the Women's Entrepreneurship Program with the goal of supporting greater and more effective participation of women in the economy.
“We aim to set an example for institutions in our country and around the world in the name of diversity, inclusion and equality," Recep Bastug concluded.