Re: Comparison with apartheid?
Hyperbolic, yes.
Wrong, I don't think so. Apartheid was about discrimination in basic human rights on the base of race. Dear of workplace rights on the basis of gender is a similar concept. Less extreme, obviously, but the same mindset.
They was I look at it is this - just substitute any protected characteristic in your policy or change the polarity of the policy. If it looks dodgy then you're discriminating badly.
By way of example "our policy is to only hire Muslims because we're under quota". Or "our policy is to stop hiring Christians".