A PLAN by the Norwegian government to ensure that at least four out of 10 company directors are women has received a frosty reception from some of the country’s leading female executives.

The authorities have for years urged industry to promote women — with some success — but the Labour government of Jens Stoltenberg, who took power last month, plans to turn a 2003 voluntary code into a binding law in January, giving companies two years to comply or face the threat of closure.

Industry leaders — male and female — have dismissed the idea as unrealistic. “Owners should have the right to choose their representation based on qualifications alone,” said Celina Midelfart, 32, the director of a health and beauty company. “I do not believe today’s imbalance is primarily the result of a lack of gender equality.”

Her opposition was echoed by Inger Ellen Nicolaisen, 46, owner of the Nikita hairdressing chain. “Competent women should not have to be recruited by quota,” she said. “I believe in promoting women by enlightening men.”

The employers’ association condemned the plans as harmful to business and said they might dissuade foreign companies from setting up there.

The government has defended its plans as a “question of democracy” and necessary to inject more equality into boardrooms. “Sometimes we need mild force to push society forwards,” said Kjell Erik Oie, a families minister.

Largely as a result of the voluntary code, 22% of Norwegian board members are women — more than double the European Union average. Yet only one in five of the 590 publicly listed firms have reached the 40% mark.

Statoil, the state-owned oil company, which meets the quota, said finding competent women had not been a problem. Anne-Kathrine Slungaard, a company official, said she did not like quotas, but was convinced the threat of legislation had led to change. “It would be best if it was done in a natural, evolutionary way, but then we would have to wait 100-200 years,” she said.

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