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MADRID - Spain, where machismo has traditionally run strong, signed equality between the sexes into law today, enforcing better working opportunities for women and giving men better childcare rights.
The Socialist government has pushed for more equality since it came to power in 2004 and Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero made a point of naming women to half his cabinet posts.
While Spaniards might agree with the premise of the law, its application has been questioned, particularly clauses saying women should have more seats on company boards even though there are not that many women in the ranks just below the top level.
Under the new law, women should make up 40 per cent of company boards and electoral lists while neither women nor men should make up more than 60 per cent of either.
The law will be introduced in steps and will not apply to small companies and constituencies. Women currently hold up 36 per cent of parliamentary seats.
The new legislation also gives men 15 days paternity leave with the aim of increasing that to a month by 2013. New fathers currently have a couple of days leave and can build that up by using days from their partner's maternity leave.
- REUTERS
