Filenews 18 July 2025 - by Evagora Prokopiou
Who is the Gender Certification Body and why should a company want to be certified, questions answered by Panagiota Arnou, Labour Relations Officer at the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, as she mentioned during the presentation of the National Certification Body for Gender Equality in the Work Environment at a conference of ICPAC and the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance.
Certification of companies for gender equality at work
The National Business Certification Body for the Implementation of Good Practices for Gender Equality in the Work Environment was created in order to recognize and reward companies that implement equality policies.
When and how the Body was established
The Agency was established in 2014, by decision of the Council of Ministers, in the framework of the project "Actions for the Reduction of the Pay Gap", co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Republic of Cyprus. It is under the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance and operates through the Department of Labour Relations.
Who decides on certifications
Decisions are taken by the Council of the Agency, with a tripartite composition and transparency:
- President: Director of the Labour Relations Department
- Members: Commissioner for Equality, representatives of OEB, CIBE, PEO, SEK, DEOK
Who can apply
Companies that have not been convicted in the last 3 years for violations of labour law have the right to apply.
The 7 criteria of the Certification Model
- Commitment to equal treatment
- Equal recruitment and advancement procedures
- Non-discriminatory vocational training
- Equal Assessment and Payroll
- Work-life balance
- Active participation of employees – Equality Committee
- Measures against (sexual) harassment
The two types of certification
- Good Practice Certification: for individual interventions
- Equality Employer Certification: for integrated strategies
Examples of good practice
- 50/50 candidates in the interviews
- Published salaries in ads
- Corporate kindergarten and summer school
- Breastfeeding room
- Flexible working hours and teleworking
- Supplementation of allowances in the amount of salary
How the certification process is done
It includes application, audits, interviews, staff questionnaires, evaluators' report, decision by the Council and an award ceremony. The certification is valid for 4 years with the possibility of renewal.
Benefits for employers
- Compliance with the principle of equality
- Access to quality staff
- Improving morale and productivity
- Better image to the public and customers
- Advantages in public tenders
By 2024, 87 employers have already been certified.
