UN applauds Swiss efforts to reduce gender pay gap
Despite being enshrined in the constitution since 1981, Swiss pay equality among men and women is still not a reality.
Keystone
A Swiss initiative to close the pay gap between men and women has been recognised by the United Nations, which has bestowed a Public Service Award on a government department responsible for gender equality issues.
Three years ago, the Federal Office for Gender Equality launched plans to achieve a fairer distribution in wages between the sexes. The UN says this policy to level the playing field constitutes a significant contribution towards its Sustainable Development Goals.
On Tuesday, government proposals to close the gender salary gap cleared a hurdle when the Senate approved its measures. They agreed that private sector companies with at least 100 employees should be obliged to report on the salary levels of male and female staff every four years. It rejected an earlier plan to impose this measure on firms with at least 50 employees. The issue must still be discussed in the House of Representatives.
The second string of the Swiss initiative is a charter for public service agencies that would allow for regular audits to test pay equality.
The proposal still has some way to go before reaching the statute books, but it appears to be gaining political momentum.
A 2014 survey by the Federal Statistical Office put the gap at 18.9% between 2010 and 2012. While some of this disparity can be explained by differences in experience and qualifications, the government insists that more than 7% of the wage gap is simply discrimination.
Equal pay between men and women has been anchored in the Swiss constitution since 1981, a principle that was sharpened by the 1996 Gender Equality Act. Progress to achieving this ideal has been slow, but the gender equality office and its 2015 initiative has been recognized by the UN as a catalyst for faster progress.
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
Swiss politician resigns after firing shots at Jesus picture
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Zurich Film Festival to host 35 world or European premieres
This content was published on
A host of stars are expected at this year's Zurich Film Festival (ZFF), which celebrates its 20th anniversary on October 3.
Switzerland’s population crosses the nine million mark
This content was published on
The permanent resident population in Switzerland exceeded nine million people for the first time at the end of June this year.
Swiss foreign ministry expresses concern after explosions in Lebanon
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs has expressed its deep concern following the explosions in Lebanon on Tuesday. In a post on X, it calls on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint in order to prevent a major regional escalation.
Switzerland receives UN mandate for meeting on Middle East conflict
This content was published on
Switzerland will organise a meeting of the parties to the Geneva Conventions on the Middle East conflict within six months.
Meyer Burger replaces top management and cuts 200 jobs
This content was published on
The ailing solar company Meyer Burger is attempting to break free with a new restructuring programme. The CEO is leaving the company. Numerous employees will also lose their jobs.
Swiss study: kindergarten children calculate much better with their fingers
This content was published on
Counting with their fingers makes kindergarten children better at arithmetic, according to a study by the University of Lausanne.
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.
Read more
More
Swiss parliament to decide on equal pay measures
This content was published on
The proposed law was born out of political frustration at perceived corporate foot-dragging on the equal pay question. Studies have shown self-regulation to be a relatively ineffective way of imposing equal pay despite the right being enshrined in the Swiss constitution 36 years ago. A Federal Statistical Office (FSO) survey, published three years ago, found that…
This content was published on
Except in certain circumstances, an employer in Switzerland does not have the right to ask a female candidate for a position if she “would like to have children”. But some do, and in such a case a woman has the right to lie. If she can subsequently prove that she was not hired because of…
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.