Firms in India are paying headhunters 30% more for female hires than they would for men, reports Indian news website The Economic Times.

Microsoft, Alcatel-Lucent, Genpact, IBM, Schneider Electric, Cadbury-Kraft Foods are among the firms offering this incentive.

Some firms like IBM and Microsoft provide incentives for hiring at multiple levels, while Genpact does it only at levels above assistant vice-president.