 Nomura Securities women workers settle suit over gender discrimination On October 15, 13 women employees at Nomura Securities Co. reached a negotiated settlement in the Tokyo High Court over a gender discrimination lawsuit. The company agreed to pay settlement money to the plaintiffs and promote three of them, who are active workers, to assistant-section chief. The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in 2002, arguing that they were discriminated in wages and promotion based on Nomura's personnel management system. Although male workers with high school diploma were promoted to section chief after serving Nomura for 13 years, most female workers were never promoted and paid annual salaries of 3 to 4 million yen less than men. In 2002, the lower court ruled that the personnel management system, putting men workers on a "career track" and women workers on a "noncareer track", is against the Equal Employment Opportunity Law. It however failed to order the company to promote the plaintiffs to managerial positions. One of the plaintiffs said that she hopes that this settlement will mark a step forward toward eliminating gender discrimination at workshops. (end) |