The Swiss voice in the world since 1935

Equal rights and equal pay demanded for women

Women holding up panel calling for equal rights
The 2019 women's strike was one of the largest public protests in recent Swiss history. Keystone/Peter Schneider

A perceived lack of equal rights for women and men in Switzerland have been at the centre of a day of action.

OrganisersExternal link of the event on Tuesday said the political fight for equal pay and respect for women had made hardly any progress over the past three years.

The Unia trade unionExternal link also criticised a planned increase of the retirement age for women as part of a reform of the country’s old age pension system. The issue will come to a nationwide vote in September.

Campaigners also pointed out the more than 20,000 reported cases of domestic violence.

Street protests in cities and towns across Switzerland were organised to mark the anniversary of the 1981 vote on a constitutional article about equal rights for women and men.

A first nationwide strike was held on June 14, 1991, initiated by a group of female workers at a watchmaking factory in western Switzerland protesting about low salaries.

A second similar protest in 2019 was attended by an estimated 500,000 people, according to the Trade Union Federation.

Last year’s third event of its kind took place amid restrictions imposed because of the Covid pandemic. More than 100,000 people took place in the symbolic strike action.

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Nestlé fined in Vaud - Henniez illegally filtered

More

Nestlé fined by Swiss canton for illegally filtered water

This content was published on Nestlé has been fined CHF 500,000 in the canton of Vaud for the unauthorised use of activated carbon filters in the production of mineral water. The filters were used to produce Henniez water from 2008 to 2022.

Read more: Nestlé fined by Swiss canton for illegally filtered water
Federal Council proposes restrictions on S status

More

Swiss government proposes restrictions on Ukrainian refugees

This content was published on Only those whose life and limb are at risk in Ukraine and who flee to Switzerland are to be granted S status in future. The remaining Ukrainian refugees should apply for asylum. This is what the Federal Council is proposing.

Read more: Swiss government proposes restrictions on Ukrainian refugees
6.4 million loan for the Château de Gruyères voted in Fribourg

More

Gruyères castle gets public funds for renovation

This content was published on The Fribourg parliament approved a sum of CHF6.4 million to renovate the ramparts, the walkway and the towers, as well as to replace the exterior lighting.

Read more: Gruyères castle gets public funds for renovation
Increasing rental housing listings, but not placating demand

More

Swiss rental housing listings increase for the first time in three years

This content was published on For the first time in three years, the number of advertisements for rental accommodation is on the rise, but this does not dampen demand, quite the contrary. In Ticino, the average duration of an advertisement published on the main portals is 30 days.

Read more: Swiss rental housing listings increase for the first time in three years
Child vaccination rates are stagnating in many countries

More

Switzerland doing relatively well when it comes to child vaccination rates

This content was published on Progress in child immunisation has stalled. For decades, the number of children vaccinated against measles, polio and other diseases has risen. But since 2010, vaccination rates have stagnated in many countries, according to a study.

Read more: Switzerland doing relatively well when it comes to child vaccination rates

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR