《中英對照讀新聞》Norway Imposes Quota for Top Women In Business 挪威強制實施企業層峰的女性配額制

◎ 魏國金

Norway is about to become the first country in the world to insist on female quotas for company boardrooms.

挪威行將成為全世界第1個強制實施公司董事會女性配額的國家。

In a revolutionary move that has delighted unions and outraged big business, the Norwegian government ordered companies to ensure that at least 40 per cent of their board members are women.

在這1項讓工會欣慰、大企業憤慨的革命性舉措中，挪威政府命令公司行號必須確保至少40%的董事會成員是女性。

State-owned firms have been given one year to comply while the country's 650 major private companies have three years. The government plans to back up their decree with legislation.

國營公司有1年（緩衝）時間來落實（要求），而該國650家主要的民營公司則有3年的時間。政府計劃透過立法來推動這項命令。

The announcement has infuriated the country's employers' federation, which says the decree may make Norway uncompetitive. It also fears that foreign firms may be discouraged from setting up operations in Norway due to the quota regulations.

這項宣布觸怒了挪威的雇主組織，該組織表示這個命令恐令挪威喪失競爭力，它也擔憂，外商公司可能因這項配額規定而卻步，不願在挪威設立分支。

Women make up a mere 7 per cent of the country's boardroom elite although the European average is still only two per cent.

在挪威的各個企業董事會中，女性僅佔7%，雖然歐洲的平均數更低，僅2%。

新聞辭典

impose： 強加。Don't impose your ideas upon others.（不要將你的觀念強加於他人。）

boardroom：董事會會議室，引申為董事會。 a board of directors董事會、理事會。

comply：順從、依從、應允。I regret that your wish cannot be complied with.（我很遺憾無法依從你的願望。）

decree：名詞，法令、命令。issue a decree發布法令。亦可當動詞，其意為頒布法令。 decree the abolition of capital punishment明令廢除死刑。