The enactment of the “Más Mujeres en Directorios” (More Women on Boards) Law by President Gabriel Boric is undoubtedly an important step in the pursuit of greater gender equity in Chile’s business world. The law establishes that, over a gradual period, no gender may hold more than 60% of the seats on the boards of publicly traded and special corporations, narrowing a gap that today is, in many cases, overwhelming.
The diagnosis is clear: although women make up about 40% of the workforce in large companies, only 22% reach a board, and more than half of boards (54%) are made up exclusively of men. Given this reality, any measure that drives change is welcome.
However, the law leaves some gaps that could limit its impact. The gradual implementation, the suggested nature of the quotas in the early years and its application only to certain types of companies raise doubts about its real reach. In a context where gender inequalities in senior management are structural, relying too heavily on the “goodwill” of the private sector may slow down the intended results.
It is true that the progressive approach seeks to give organizations time to adapt and to avoid resistance. But if it is not accompanied by clear incentives, effective monitoring mechanisms and a plan to extend it to other types of companies, the risk is that the change remains symbolic.
In that sense, the law marks a milestone, but it should not be seen as a finish line; rather, it should be the start of a broader process. Bringing more women into decision-making spaces is not only a matter of equity, but also of competitiveness, diversity of thought and better governance.
Let us value this progress, but let us not forget that the real challenge will be ensuring that, within a few years, this measure translates into deep and lasting cultural change that reaches not only large companies but also medium and small ones, where the gaps are often even less visible.
Jovanka Trebotich
Portfolio Manager, Know Hub Chile
Read the original column at https://www.diarioconcepcion.cl/opinion/2025/08/16/mas-mujeres-en-directorios.html
