UNI developed and published pre-standard (reference practice) UNI/PdR 125:2022 on gender equality last March, with the help of the Working Table on the gender certification of companies provided by Mission 5 in the PNRR (Italy’s National Recovery Plan).
The document sets guidelines on the management system for gender equality policies in organizations by providing instructions for the structuring and adoption of relevant key performance indicators (KPIs).
The pre-standard has been strongly supported by the Italian Ministry for Equal Opportunities as a tool to put into force the National Strategy on Gender Equality 2021-2025 (inspired by the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 of the European Union) and Law 162/2021 on salary parity.
In order to ensure a holistic measurement of the level of maturity of individual organizations, the document identified six indicators relating to the different variables that can characterise an inclusive organization that respects gender equality:
- Culture and strategy
- Governance
- HR processes
- Opportunities for growth and inclusion of women in the company area
- Gender income equality
- Protection of parenthood and work-life balance.
The very good news is that the Presidential Decree dated 29th April and published in the Italian Official Journal last 1st July recognised UNI/PdR 125 as the one and only reference for “gender equality certification” and the only way to fulfil Italian legislation on the subject. It will also be the only way to get financial grants and improve qualification for public procurement (especially in the framework of Italy’s National Recovery Plan).
UNI/PdR 125 is another example of how standardization can support legislation and help foster gender equality in organisations.
For more information on how European standards support Gender Equality, you can visit the dedicated section of CEN and CENELEC’s SDGs monitoring tool.
