France's lower house National Assembly on Wednesday approved a government plan to introduce quotas for the hiring of women to top public sector posts that will hit 40 percent by 2018.

The law, which must still be approved in the Senate, requires the government to hit targets of 20 percent next year and in 2014, 30 percent from 2015 to 2017 and 40 percent from 2018.

Women currently account for 60 percent of public sector employees but hold only 10 percent of upper management positions.

Government bodies that do not reach the hiring targets will face financial penalties under the law.

France in October 2010 introduced a similar law mandating 40 percent representation of women on the boards of publicly listed companies within six years.