MAM
Promax&BDA to debut in China
MUMBAI: Promax&BDA will hold its first conference in China this November. The organisation has announced that it would hold its maiden conference in China, in conjunction with the 8th Sichuan Television Festival (SCTVF).
The Sichuan Television Festival, sponsored by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television of the People’s Republic of China, runs from November 26 to November 28, and features various events and awards programmes. These include the International Television Programme Market, the International Gold Panda Animation Expo, the International Gold Panda Digital Art Awards, as well as the International Gold Panda Awards for Documentary, stated an official release.
The one-day Promax&BDA conference, featuring international and local speakers, will be held on November 26 to November 27. PROMAX&BDA Awards ceremony for promotion and design excellence in 10 categories will be held on 26 November in association with the SCTVF’s International Gold Panda Awards, which recognise and reward documentary and animation production achievement.
“Our first-ever PROMAX&BDA China opens up a vital new chapter in the development of promotion and design around the world,” says president and CEO of PROMAX&BDA Jim Chabin.
“We have long looked forward to welcoming promo-makers and designers from the People’s Republic of China into the global promo and design community in a more meaningful way. This has myriad benefits not only for local promo and design teams, who will now be offered the full benefit of Promax&BDA events on their home ground, but also for television stations around the world,” Chabin says. “Increased interaction with and input from one of the biggest television markets in the world can only enhance our understanding and add layers to our collective experience and expertise,” Chabin adds.
“Sichuan Province, located in the middle of China, covers an area of 485000 square km, with a population of 80 million people. China has a very big market for TV and film programs, and has more than 320 TV stations and 2262 TV channels,” “As delegates from TV Stations and channels will get together to the Sichuan TV Festival, our cooperation with Promax&BDA will enhance the communication between international professionals and Chinese TV stations and production companies, and provide them with more opportunities for cooperation and business,” says director of Sichuan TV festival office Xuzhao Zhong.
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33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
