Committee and priorities
In 2024, the Charter for equal pay was supplemented by a committee made up of representatives from the Confederation, cantons, communes and state-associated organisations. The task of this committee is to coordinate measures and ensure that information is shared.
Based on the results of the 2024 monitoring process, the committee of the Charter has determined three priority issues for the coming years. Signatories to the Charter are encouraged to strengthen their commitment and activities in these areas.
1. Raising awareness of professional equality at all hierarchical levels
Central to the Charter is awareness-raising among employees who are responsible for determining salaries and for function evaluation, recruitment, training and career advancement at all hierarchical levels. This involves raising awareness of the Gender Equality Act (GEA), the various stereotypes and biases that can lead to discrimination, and the challenges of work-life balance, with the aim of promoting an inclusive corporate culture.
2. Regularly collecting data on equal pay and other issues related to professional equality
Monitoring has highlighted that, even though numerous measures and projects are being implemented within participating administrations and organisations, there is often a lack of indicators or statistics to track the evolution of factors related to progress towards equality and the success of measures. In order to ensure the effectiveness of measures or identify potential problems, it is important to collect gender-related data from staff.
3. Addressing underemployment among women
In Switzerland, nearly 70% of underemployed people (those in part-time work who would like to increase their hours and are available to do so at short notice) are women (FSO, 2024). This has significant repercussions for their salaries, pensions, social security and, in turn, financial independence. The difficulty of balancing work and private life contributes to this phenomenon: around one in 10 women with children are underemployed (FSO, 2024). At a time of skilled labour shortages, it is all the more important to ensure that women who wish to increase their working hours can do so.
Members
Press release : New committee to improve workplace equality in the public sector
Do you have any questions about the Charter?
Dr. Oliver Schröter
Economist
T +41 58 462 75 54
oliver.schroeter@ebg.admin.ch