A Papua New Guinea company recognised internationally for its promotion of gender equality hopes other Pacific-based companies will follow its path.
Dorothy Kila, Eke Kendi, Geraldine Arona, Violet Aopi and Karen Tobessa. Photo: Supplied/ NCS
NCS, which is PNG's largest catering company, has been awarded a leading global and business assessment, the Economic Dividends for Gender Equality certification.
The first company from the Pacific Islands to be awarded the certification, NCS employs 680 women in a workforce of 1300.
The company's human resources general manager, Violet Aopi said having such a large female workforce was unusual in PNG.
She said diversity has helped the company be more efficient.
"And we're keen to share our experiences with other companies in the hope that it would also provide that positive change to having a more equal opportunity for their genders in their company, and to develop that potential for their female employees."
Men still dominate PNG's formal workforce, but Ms Aopi said there had been improvement in the balance over recent years, and that the private sector was leading the way.
"The private sector has put together a membership organisation that is coming up with policies and procedures to improve our gender equality.
"So they've seen the importance of having a more diversified workforce as opposed to just favouring or seeing one gender dominating the workforce in a company."
NCS' promotion of gender equaity has received support from the International Finance Corporation
According to the IFC, 24 percent of women of working age in PNG are employed in the formal sector, whilst the remaining 76 percent are either in the informal sector or are unemployed.
This contrasts with 40 percent of PNG men of working age being employed in the formal sector, whilst the remaining 60 percent either work in the informal sector or are unemployed.