Gender Pay Gap in Switzerland
Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the world, Switzerland has one of the highest unexplained gender pay gaps in Europe — around 8% after controlling for sector, experience and education. The revised Equal Pay Act (GlG) now requires companies of 100+ employees to conduct and publish wage equality analyses.
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The Numbers and the Law
The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) measures two pay gaps: the gross gap (~18%) and the unexplained gap (~8%) that remains after accounting for structural factors. The unexplained gap constitutes direct discrimination under the Equal Pay Act (GlG, Art. 3). The 2020 GlG revision requires companies with 100+ employees to conduct a wage equality analysis using the LOGIB software (freely available from the federal government), have it verified by an independent auditor, and inform employees of the results by the end of 2021 — repeating every 4 years.
LOGIB and Employer Obligations
LOGIB (Lohngleichheitsinstrument des Bundes) is the federal government's free wage equality tool. It analyses whether pay differences between men and women in the same company can be objectively explained by job-related factors. Firms receiving federal contracts or subsidies have additional obligations. The SIF gender equality label and certifications (e.g. Fair-ON-Pay) signal voluntary commitment beyond legal minimum.
What Employees Can Do
Employees who suspect pay discrimination can: request justification of their salary in writing (the employer is not obliged to disclose colleagues' salaries, but must justify the basis of pay decisions), file a complaint with cantonal labour inspectorates, or bring a civil claim under GlG. The burden of proof is reversed in GlG cases: once the employee makes discrimination plausible, the employer must prove the difference is justified. Free advice is available from cantonal equality offices (Gleichstellungsbüros).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to pay women less than men in Switzerland?
Yes. Equal pay for equal work is guaranteed by Art. 8 of the Federal Constitution and the Equal Pay Act (GlG Art. 3). However, proving violations requires demonstrating the pay difference is not justified by objective factors.
Does the LOGIB analysis apply to all companies?
The legal obligation applies to companies with 100+ employees (approximately 1% of Swiss firms, but covering a large share of employment). Smaller companies can use LOGIB voluntarily.
Can I find out what my colleagues earn to check for pay discrimination?
Swiss law does not require employers to disclose colleagues' salaries. However, employers subject to GlG must inform employees of the LOGIB analysis result and whether they meet the equality standard. A growing number of GAV now include pay transparency provisions.