Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero called on the country's employers to be "decisive agents" in boosting gender equality at work, on the occasion of Wednesday's celebrations for the International Women's Day.

He told an audience of 200 at the government's headquarters in the Moncloa Palace outside Madird that the proposed Equality Law, designed to halt violence against women, had been passed by the executive authority and is now awaiting the approval of parliament.

Zapatero said that companies which promote women into management ranks, have more women executives, and pursue a real equality of salaries, are more efficient and therefore can contribute more to economic development.

The prime minister reminded the audience that Spain had launched 54 initiatives in efforts to ensure gender equality, including Plan Concilia designed to promote infant schools and schemes to help women who have started businesses.

Spain, together with other European Union nations, has signed an agreement to achieve equality between men and women across the continent, Zapatero said.

Source: Xinhua