Ten years of the Charter for equal pay
The Charter for equal pay in the public sector is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Since 2016, public sector employers and state-associated organisations have served as important role models by campaigning for equal pay and professional equality.
The signatories to the Charter are committed to raising awareness amongst their staff and to regularly monitoring compliance with equal pay principles. They also campaign for equal pay in public procurement and subsidies, publicising the progress they have made. Since its introduction, the Charter has been continuously developed to strengthen the commitment of public sector and state-associated employers.
The key milestones
In 2016, the Federal Council launched the Charter for equal pay in the public sector. Its aim is to reinforce the commitment of the federal government, the cantons and the communes to equal pay. In 2018, the Charter won the United Nations Public Service Award. The following year, it was extended to include state-associated organisations, thereby broadening its scope.
The strategy to strengthen the Charter, adopted in 2022, provided further impetus. The strategy includes measures to increase the public sector’s commitment, to promote dialogue among the signatories and to raise the profile of progress towards equal pay.
The establishment of the Charter Committee in 2024 aims to further strengthen cooperation between the federal government, the cantons, the communes and state-associated organisations. At the same time, the focus is being broadened to include the structural causes of pay gaps, such as work-life balance.
Since 2026, a Logib tool has been used for analysing equal pay. It allows employers to review their pay practices with a view to promoting equal pay within their company. Those organisations that use the tool are indicated with a trophy symbol in the list of signatories, highlighting the public sector’s efforts and the results in achieving pay equality.
Ten years of commitment to equal pay
Over the past ten years, the Charter has become a valuable resource for public-sector employers and state-associated organisations to put their commitment to equal pay and equality in the workplace into practice. Its effectiveness is based on regular reviews, transparency, dialogue and addressing the challenges identified.
Despite the progress made, achieving true equality remains an ongoing task. Even after ten years, the Charter’s objective remains to promote equal pay and equality, and to work together to make further progress.
Learn more about the Charter for equal pay in the public sector