Biotech Firm Roche pledges to Promote Inclusivity & Diversity in the Middle East

Roche is a biotechnology business established in Basel, Switzerland in 1896. It collaborates with partners to develop medications and diagnostics, and has been recognized for its sustainability efforts. By ratifying the charter of the Middle East Inclusion & Diversity Council, Roche in the Middle East has reiterated its dedication to diversity and inclusion. The business is one of the most recent to commit to advancing gender parity in the area in line with the UN's fifth sustainable development target, which calls for a rise in the proportion of women in leadership roles to 30 percent by 2025.

In order to enhance diversity and inclusion in the workplace via cooperation and a commitment to change, the Middle East Inclusion & Diversity Council wants to bring together like-minded organizations throughout the area. Organizations are obligated under the charter to support women in the area in their efforts to advance to high positions by concentrating on the executive pipeline and the mid-tier level. It acknowledges the uniqueness of the region and the reality that various organizations will start from different places. As a consequence, each organization should establish its objectives and choose the appropriate approach for it.

Hani Ashkar, Senior Partner for PwC Middle East Territory, stated: "We at PwC Middle East are proud of our dedication and our continued efforts to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We agree that attaining gender equality is an important part of the UAE's future vision and are adamant that the business sector can play a significant role in realizing this objective. As a result, we are dedicated to supporting and advancing women in the workplace, and we place a high priority on bringing about meaningful change in our local communities.”

The Middle East region of Roche is dedicated to putting best practices for workplace inclusion and diversity into action. Programs for education and training will be given top priority to increase awareness and promote an inclusive and open society. Additionally, they want to develop a leadership that reflects both the organization and the societies it serves.

Olfat Berro, Area Head Middle East of Roche Pharmaceuticals in the Middle East, thinks that a woman-centered approach to integrated healthcare services is necessary to improve the global health picture for everyone. For health systems to be improved so that women worldwide have better health outcomes, women's views must be heard in the discussion. The region has a dilemma with this.

Women's employment rates in the MENA area are among the lowest in the world at 19%, and they have been falling since 2020. The MENA area has the second-largest gender gap to reduce after South Asia, despite significant efforts and development over the previous ten years, according to the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Report 2022. As Middle Eastern executives, it is their responsibility to make sure that inclusion and diversity are fundamental elements of the workplace culture and that organisations accurately reflect the communities they serve. 

The general manager of Roche Diagnostics Middle East, Guido Sander, thinks it's critical for males to actively take the lead in promoting gender equality in the workplace. This entails paying attention to the viewpoints and experiences of female coworkers, amplifying their voices, dispelling gender norms, supporting women in positions of leadership, and advocating for laws that encourage work-life balance. In addition to making the environment more successful and inventive, this will make it more varied and inclusive.

Gender inclusion, in the opinion of Omar Sherief Mohammad, Cluster Head - India, Middle East & Africa, requires the creation of a welcoming and supportive workplace. To do this, they must recognize their unconscious prejudices, educate themselves, adopt policies that encourage equitable growth for everyone, design structured development programs, and share the success stories of other women in the business to serve as an example to other women. This will influence how the organization develops in the future.

To promote diversity, equity, and inclusion via conversation and the sharing of experiences, Roche is actively participating in the Middle East Inclusion & Diversity Council. Roche is very dedicated to DE&I globally and is happy with its development in the Middle East.

About Roche

Roche is a biotechnology business that was established in Basel, Switzerland, in 1896. It is the largest biotechnology corporation in the world and a pioneer in in vitro testing. To improve and save lives, the firm strives for scientific excellence in developing medications and diagnostics. Roche collaborates with a wide range of parties and combines its expertise in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals with data insights from clinical practice to give the best treatment possible for each individual. Roche has been recognized as one of the pharmaceutical industry's most sustainable businesses by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the thirteenth consecutive year in appreciation of their work to increase access to healthcare.