The Office for Equal Opportunity has launched a new magazine aimed at promoting greater equality in the workplace. The magazine, called Paso Doble, will provide information on different schemes across the country.

The Office for Equal Opportunity has launched a new magazine aimed at promoting greater equality in the workplace. The magazine, called Paso Doble, will provide information on different schemes across the country.

The new magazine Paso Doble -- presented at a news conference on Thursday -- is aimed first and foremost at Switzerland's business and industry leaders.

Although Switzerland has had legislation guaranteeing equal rights at work since 1996, women still earn an average 24 percent less than men, and four out of five management positions are held by men.

“The road to equality is not an easy one,” said office director Patricia Schulz. “Women are underrepresented right across the board, in banking, in pharmaceuticals, in just about every sphere.”

Paso Doble will be published once a year in French and German but plans are in hand to introduce an Italian version soon.

The first issue includes details of a scheme organised by the Swiss union of construction workers. The scheme aims to recruit more women to the traditionally male-dominated building profession.

“Society as a whole would benefit from having more women involved in the
building industry,” said Hans Schäppi, vice president of the union. “In the
long term, we would have more family-friendly building designs.”

The new magazine has the support of the Swiss Association of Personnel Managers, whose president, Christoph Schaub, says that greater equality remains a top priority for his members.

However, he draws the line at positive discrimination.

“Employers need to find the best person for the job,” he said. “Having a woman as some sort of token figure won't work.”

The name Paso Doble is designed to appeal to all of Switzerland's linguistic groups but is also intended to promote some much needed qualities in the workplace, according to Schulz.

“We chose the name because it inspires feelings of movement and vitality,” she said.

Written by SRI staff.

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