Scepticism About Perceived Salary Equity

Women and men view workplace equity very differently a disconnect that raises serious red flags. According to the latest Sapics survey on Women in Supply Chain Leadership, 89 of men believe career advancement opportunities are equal for both genders, while only 57 of women agree. More than a third of the women respondents strongly disagreed with that view. The survey also revealed a sharp contrast in perceptions of pay equity. While 63 of men think salaries are largely equal, only 25 of women share that belief. Notably, 45 of women suspect that men are paid more for doing the same work. Sapics says this gap between mens confidence in equality and womens deep scepticism highlights the urgent need for organisations to proactively ensure and transparently communicate equitable compensation practices. Change is happening slowly but surely, says Irina Rodrigues, managing director of OCL Group. Theres a growing presence of women in operational, commercial and leadership roles not just in administrative or support functions like in the past. More women are entering technical areas such as port operations, warehouse management, transport coordination and cargo planning. This visibility is important: it challenges long- held perceptions about gender and capability in freight. She also notes a shift toward more deliberate talent development. Industry players are beginning to invest more intentionally in training and mentorship pipelines to create pathways for women to grow and lead. In parallel, theres also a cultural shift: leadership styles that prioritise emotional intelligence, collaboration and ethical decision- making are being recognised as critical for long-term sustainability. Many of these traits are naturally amplified when women are given space to lead authentically. But the sector is still far from where it needs to be. Despite growing visibility of strong female leaders across senior and executive levels, women remain underrepresented in the broader logistics and transport workforce. Reports indicate that women make up only around 22 of this industry. According to the World Bank, women account for only 12 of the transport sector specifically. It warns that this imbalance isnt just a statistic its a missed opportunity. Underrepresentation limits diverse perspectives in service design and decision-making, affects business outcomes, and undermines economic growth. The organisation notes that increasing womens participation and leadership in the sector has the potential to boost innovation, improve service delivery, address labour shortages and contribute meaningfully to GDP growth. According to Rodrigues, the gender gap remains particularly evident in frontline and technical roles, such as driving, field logistics and marine operations, where progress has been slower and more complex. Cultural barriers, safety concerns and a lack of structured pathways continue to present real challenges in these spaces. LV