Opet, With Its 'Woman Power' Project Initiated a Great Change

OPET put its signature to a substantial change based on its Woman Power Project that it commenced in 2018 with the aim of increasing women's employment in Turkey. The number of women working in police stations since the start of the project at OPET, which provides employment for women in various positions perceived as jobs inclusive for men such as sales representative, station manager, shift supervisor has reached 3 thousand up until today, with the understanding that "profession has no gender". OPET that employs fuel oil sales representatives in 73 cities of Turkey increased the number of women fuel oil sales representatives working at the pump from 27 to 731 with its Woman Power project. The number of dealers that provide Woman Power employment at OPET have also increased 224 percent.

In year 2018, OPET put its signature to an exemplary project that expands wider work space for women in the fuel oil sector that is regarded to be "men business", in order to contribute to increasing women employment in Turkey. OPET led the way to a deep-scaled change in the sector with the Woman Power Project that it initiated with the aim of employing at least two women in every fuel oil station. The number of women working in OPET fuel oil stations have doubled as of today by means of the "Woman Power" project. In a short period of time like 2,5 years, the number of women working in fuel oil stations have reached up to 3 thousand at OPET, which was employing about 1541 women during the first days of the project.

Woman Power Employment in 73 Cities of Turkey

OPET that has recorded an increase of 69 percent in its women workers at fuel oil stations since the beginning of the project now employs women fuel oil sales representatives in 73 cities of TURKEY. While the number of women fuel oil sales representatives at OPET with jobs right at the fuel oil pumps were 27 in May 2018 when the project started, this number has scaled up to 731 at the end of 2020. The number of women sales representatives at supermarkets have increased from 576 to 945. The number of dealers that provide Woman Power employment at OPET have also increased 224 percent. Besides, 61 percent of the women who are employed within the scope of the project are high school or university graduates, or have master degrees. It is also emphasized that women workers have the opportunity to be promoted to higher positions such as shift supervisor and station manager.

"Gender Inequality is a Factor That Has a Negative Impact on Development"

OPET Board Member, Filiz Öztürk, said that with the Woman Power Project they aim at breaking down the prejudices of the public. Öztürk said, “While increasing women employment with our project, we also contribute to Turkey's economy. We took the road with an objective to make a significant change not only at OPET, but also in our society. We are taking firm steps towards our goal." Filiz Öztürk, mentioned that gender inequality is a factor that has a negative impact in development. Öztürk stated that by means of the Woman Power Project, they strive at establishing the perception in public opinion that profession has no gender, and demonstrating that women may be successful in every field of business life within the framework of equal opportunities and said, "The main obstacle before women is prejudice and discrimination in terms of which jobs women can or can't accomplish. Our women are working with great success in our fuel oil stations in jobs such as fuel oil sales representative, supermarket sales representative, station manager, shirt supervisor and accounting personnel. We have created a very important awareness with this project in a short period like 2,5 years by showing that when women are given the opportunity, they are successful achievers. In this project which we have carried out with the support of Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services, Energy Market Regulatory Authority and İŞKUR, our following target is to increase the number of women working in more than 1700 OPET stations all over Turkey and to see at least two women employers in every fuel oil station.”

Opet Woman Power Project in Numbers

• The number of women working in OPET fuel oil stations have increased up to 3 thousand.
• The number of women employees at fuel oil stations has increased 69 percent throughout the project since the beginning up until today.
• The number of Fuel Oil Sales Representatives who work right at the fuel oil pump have increased from 27 at the beginning of the project to 731.
• The number of women sales representatives at supermarkets have increased from 576 to 945.
• The number of dealers that provide Woman Power employment at OPET have also increased 224 percent.
• About 61 percent of the women employed within the scope of the Woman Power Project are high school or university graduates, or have master degrees.