SAES hosted the Secretary for Social Policy, Families and Equality, Conchita Ruiz Caballero, today at its facilities in Cartagena. This visit comes shortly after the announcement that SAES has been awarded the Equality Distinction from the Region of Murcia, recognising our commitment and efforts in implementing effective policies and measures that promote gender equality in the workplace. The minister was accompanied by the Director General for Women and Prevention of Gender Violence, Ana Belén Martínez. They were received by the President of SAES, Javier Mármol; the Director of People and Culture, Esther Corbalán; and the Chief Strategy, Innovation and Sustainability Officer, Sara García.
The President of SAES welcomed the visit of Conchita Ruiz, the Secretary for Social Policy, Families, and Equality, along with Ana Belén Martínez, the Director General for Women and Prevention of Gender Violence, following the announcement that SAES has been awarded the Equality Distinction from the Region of Murcia. This recognition is granted to organisations that excel in their gender equality policies and practices.
This distinction, approved by the Council of Government at the proposal of the Department of Social Policy, Families, and Equality, strongly underscores SAES’s commitment to advancing the inclusion of women in the organisation and in leadership positions, as well as ensuring equal treatment and opportunities for both women and men. It guarantees that all employees enjoy the same opportunities and pay equity. SAES bases its policy on personal development irrespective of gender and champions diversity in all its processes, ensuring that gender, age, or any other personal characteristic does not lead to different treatment by the company.
Aware of the low representation of women in STEM university degrees, SAES actively engages by delivering vocational talks to secondary school and university students. These initiatives aim to provide role models and inspire interest in pursuing STEM-related fields of study.
In its First Equality Plan, SAES has implemented 34 measures aimed at ensuring equal treatment and opportunities for women and men within the company. This plan effectively enforces the right to equity and ensures a workplace free from discrimination. It is designed to prevent direct or indirect discrimination in processes, tools, and actions related to recruitment, hiring, promotion, professional development, communication, occupational health, work-life balance, and compensation, all in line with the company’s ethical principles and policies.
These measures reflect SAES’s commitment, as the company has been strategically working in this area since 2022. “At SAES, we firmly believe that the fight for equality is a commitment that must involve all of us: businesses, the government, and society as a whole. Only by working together can we close the gender pay gap, break glass ceilings, and enable more women to access leadership positions.”
“For us, it’s not just a social goal but also a corporate commitment, allowing us to attract and retain talent by leveraging the potential and capabilities of all our staff,” says Javier Mármol, President of SAES. “Managing human resources with a focus on equality and respect for diversity is ingrained in our DNA, enriching our organisation and propelling us into the future with confidence and determination,” he adds.
Conchita Ruiz, Secretary for Social Policy, Families, and Equality, highlighted that “equality knows no boundaries, and it is greatly satisfying to see this commitment take shape in business sectors such as the defence and technology industries. These fields have traditionally been very male-dominated, and we must continue to advocate for the inclusion of women at all levels.”
Ruiz encouraged companies of all sizes and sectors in the region to implement equality policies in their workplaces, viewing it “as a value added to the corporate culture, which generates economic and social profitability.” She emphasised that “it has been proven that the impact of equality plans in companies leads to increased competitiveness, better resource utilisation, higher performance, and the genuine attraction of talent, regardless of gender or professional role.”
With this step, SAES underscores its ongoing commitment to gender equality and the promotion of an inclusive work environment.
