The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Swiss women demand measures for childcare, essential workers

Women s demonstration in Lausanne in 2019
One year ago, thousands of women across Switzerland took part in demonstrations demanding equal treatment and conditions. © Keystone / Jean-christophe Bott

One year after a massive women’s strike in Switzerland, an alliance of women’s groups has reaffirmed the need for equal treatment and conditions, and urgent action on issues like childcare during the coronavirus crisis. 

Some 50 women’s organisations in the wealthy Alpine nation have sent an open letterExternal link to the Swiss government and parliament demanding better representation of women among decision-makers and action on other specific issues. 

The authors also call for modern family-friendly policies to ensure a better balance of professional and private life, greater commitment to combating violence against women and support for migrant women.

Swiss women’s organisations say unequal treatment persists, including lower pay, with women on average earning 20% less than men. 

They insist that childcare, which has been a key issue during the pandemic, should be much better regulated in the future. Women provide one billion hours of unpaid childcare, the authors say. The virus laid bare the fact that without extensive family support or grand-parents, Switzerland’s childcare system cannot function properly.

“If we wish to call upon all active women and men to rebuild the Swiss economy, to minimise the shortage of skilled workers and create a new start, then we need in parallel a professional state-financed childcare offensive,” the authors wrote. 

The letter also calls for the working conditions and salaries of women in professions deemed “essential” during the pandemic to be better rewarded. 

“Around 86% of all nursing staff, 92% of all childcare workers and two-thirds of all retail employees are women. At the same time, it is precisely here that working conditions are miserable and wages are far too low,” it said.

The authors insist that the financing of Covid-19 economic measures should not be made, as in previous crises, via savings in areas that disproportionately affect women.

More
women demonstrating

More

Swiss Politics

Huge turnout for women’s strike in Switzerland

This content was published on Women across Switzerland have taken to the streets on Friday to demand equal treatment and conditions compared with their male counterparts.

Read more: Huge turnout for women’s strike in Switzerland

Popular Stories

News

Switzerland "more than ready" to host Ukraine summit

More

Switzerland ‘more than ready’ to host Ukraine summit

This content was published on Switzerland is more than ready to host a summit between Russia and Ukraine, says Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, highlighting Switzerland's expertise in this area.

Read more: Switzerland ‘more than ready’ to host Ukraine summit
Travailsuisse demands an average wage increase of two per cent

More

Swiss union federation demands average wage increase of 2%

This content was published on The employees' umbrella organisation Travailsuisse is demanding an average wage increase of two percent for all employees in the coming year. This would cover the rising cost of living and make up for wage shortfalls in recent years.

Read more: Swiss union federation demands average wage increase of 2%
Volunteering increases your own well-being according to survey

More

Volunteering found to increase well-being

This content was published on Volunteering can have a positive effect on mental health. According to a survey conducted in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, people who volunteer for others also strengthen themselves.

Read more: Volunteering found to increase well-being
Twint has more than six million users by the middle of the year

More

More than six million use Twint in Switzerland

This content was published on Twint is being used more and more frequently to make purchases at the till or transfer money to friends using a smartphone. By the middle of the year, the payment app already had more than six million users in Switzerland.

Read more: More than six million use Twint in Switzerland
Zelensky-Putin meeting: Macron pleads for Geneva

More

Zelensky-Putin meeting: Macron argues for Geneva

This content was published on The meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin should take place in Europe, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. He is calling for it to be held in Geneva.

Read more: Zelensky-Putin meeting: Macron argues for Geneva

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