Canadian insurer Manulife to boost diversity by 30% in five years

(Reuters) - Manulife Financial Corp <MFC.TO> said on Friday it was making a push to increase the representation of minorities across its north American businesses, joining a host of companies that have pledged to improve racial diversity at workplaces.

The Canadian insurer is planning a 30% increase in minority representation in leadership positions by 2025, while hiring at least 25% through its graduate program, Manulife said in a statement.

A number of companies, including Microsoft Corp <MSFT.O>, Alphabet Inc's <GOOGL.O> Google and Royal Bank of Canada <RY.TO>, are confronting discrimination after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police triggered protests in the United States against racial inequality.

Last month, Manulife and Bank of Nova Scotia <BNS.TO> pledged C$3.5 million ($2.58 million) and C$500,000, respectively, for diversity initiatives.

The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism in June urged https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200630005610/en/Canadian-Council-Business-Leaders-Anti-Black-Systemic-Racism corporates to commit to increasing Black representation in their workforce and boardrooms by 2025.

(Reporting by C Nivedita in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)