The Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW will allow the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to specifically hire women for track maintenance roles across the Hunter Valley.
ARTC boss John Fullerton said the move was part of the company’s drive to have a 30% female workforce by 2020. ARTC’s workforce currently comprises just 18% women, and its Hunter Valley workforce is just 12%.
“Increasing the diversity of our workforce is a must in today’s competitive business environment,” Fullerton said.
“We recognise that a talented and diverse workforce is fundamental to building a commercially-strong, innovative and customer-focused organisation.
“The rail industry is heavily male-dominated and our workforce, particularly in the field, is largely male. When recruiting for track roles the vast majority of applicants are also male.”
ARTC had to obtain an exemption from the Anti-Discrimination Board to direct its employment towards women; it is against the law in NSW for an employer to target a specific sex for a role without one.
The company will initially hire up to ten workers for the Hunter, with infrastructure maintenance and signalling maintenance roles on offer in Muswellbrook, Maitland, Scone and Newcastle.
“A more diverse workforce leads to greater innovation and creativity, develops stronger problem-solving skills through different ways of thinking and increases morale, motivation and engagement,” Fullerton said.
“Put simply, greater diversity leads to better business results.”
ARTC will hold the exemption for two years from July 6, 2015.
An information session will be held at ARTC’s Muswellbrook maintenance centre on Sunday, September 27 from 11am to 1pm.
It is a misguided notion to demand a set % of employees to be female, because this defeats the purpose of getting the best person (ie; best skills/fit/etc) for the position.