CDL Ranked Top Amongst Singapore Companies for Gender Equality on Equileap’s APAC Special Report 2022

  • CDL recognised as the top-rated company in Singapore for gender equality at work by Equileap
  • Women employees form 69% of CDL’s workforce and 47% of its department heads

Singapore, 16 June 2022 – City Developments Limited (CDL) has emerged top in Singapore for gender equality at work based on research findings published in Equileap’s dedicated Gender Equality in Asia-Pacific (APAC) Special Report 2022 Edition commissioned by Sasakawa Peace Foundation. This affirms its commitment to diversity and inclusion at the workplace. Focused on APAC’s key developed economies, the report provides a status update on gender equality in businesses across the region, offering key insights per market and sectors on specific issues ranging from gender pay gap to paid parental leave policies.

Headquartered in Amsterdam, Equileap is the leading organisation providing data and insights on gender equality in the corporate sector. The APAC special report covers Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore, and examined 1,181 publicly listed companies, representing 23 million employees. Assessed on 19 gender equality criteria such as gender balance from the board to the workforce and policies relating anti-sexual harassment, amongst others, the report analyses research done in 2021.

Ms Esther An, CDL Chief Sustainability Officer, said, “CDL is honoured to be recognised by Equileap for our long-standing commitment to advance gender equality and promote an inclusive culture at the workplace. With a workforce that is majority female in a male-dominated industry, empowering women and supporting their pursuit of career and personal development is fundamental to our corporate sustainability strategy. This accolade has reaffirmed our conviction that diversity and inclusion enrich our corporate culture and strategically enhance our human capital and performance.”

Women comprise a significant 69% of CDL’s workforce, with 47% of its Heads of Departments (HODs) being females. In 2017, CDL adopted a formal Board Diversity Policy, which sets a clear framework for promoting diversity on its Board. Currently, two[1] (or 22.2%) out of nine directors on CDL’s Board are women.

In 2017, Mr Sherman Kwek, CDL Group Chief Executive Officer joined over 1,600 leaders globally in pledging CDL’s support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles. Established by UN Global Compact and UN Women, the principles offer practical guidance to the private sector on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community.

Recognising that creating and expanding opportunities for women are fundamental to its growth, CDL established an internal Diversity and Inclusion Task Force in 2017 to promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace and the wider community. This Task Force complements CDL’s Women4Green network, a platform dedicated to encouraging and inspiring women to create a financially, environmentally and socially sustainable future.

Diana van Maadijk, Co-Founder and CEO of Equileap, said, “The management at City Developments Limited are to be commended when it comes to addressing gender equality at work. The steps they have taken to enhance gender balance such as publishing their gender pay gap and going beyond what Singapore legislation requires for paid paternity leave demonstrate their commitment. Congratulations to City Developments Limited on taking the top slot in Singapore.”

Earlier this year, CDL was also listed on the 2022 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI). One of five Singapore companies to be listed, this is the fifth consecutive year the company is recognised on the index since its inauguration in 2018.

For more information on Equileap’s report, visit: https://equileap.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Equileap_Gender-Equality-in-Asia-Pacific_Special-Report_2022.pdf

For media enquiries, please contact CDL Sustainability:

Stephanie Chua
Manager
T:  +65 6877 8400
E:  [email protected]

Kaiwen Teng
Assistant Manager
T:  +65 6877 8357
E:   [email protected]

About City Developments Limited
City Developments Limited (CDL) has been Singapore’s property pioneer since 1963. It is a leading global real estate operating company with a network spanning 104 locations in 29 countries and regions. Listed on the Singapore Exchange, the Group is one of the largest companies by market capitalisation. Its income-stable and geographically diverse portfolio comprises residences, offices, hotels, serviced apartments, retail malls and integrated developments. As a socially responsible corporation, CDL is fully committed to environmental sustainability and has been initiating and supporting sustained outreach programmes to deliver a lasting and positive impact in the communities where it operates.

For more information on CDL, please visit www.cdl.com.sg.
For details on CDL’s sustainability journey, please visit www.digital.metafusion.com.sg/websites/2023/cdl.

Follow CDL on social media:
Instagram: @citydevelopments / instagram.com/citydevelopments
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/citydevelopments
Twitter: @CityDevLtd / twitter.com/citydevltd

[1] The two directors are Ms Carol Fong and Ms Tang Ai Ai Mrs Wong Ai Ai.