The Raiffeisen Association of South Tyrol has once again been certified under the Italian UNI/PdR 125:2022 reference standard for gender equality. In 2023, it was already among the first organisations in South Tyrol to meet the requirements of the newly introduced standard. Following an independent audit, the certification has now been renewed for another three years, until 2029. In doing so, the Association reaffirms its commitment to ensuring equal opportunities on a lasting basis and in accordance with verifiable criteria.
The voluntary certification undertaken by the Raiffeisen Association goes well beyond legal requirements. At its core is a management system that is continuously refined and regularly reviewed by independent auditors. The most recent audit was conducted by the accredited certification body DASA Rägister S.p.A. “For us, recertification is both recognition and a mandate. It demonstrates that we take our responsibility as an employer seriously, while remaining committed to continuous improvement,” emphasises Director General Christian Tanner.
Introduced in 2022, the UNI/PdR 125:2022 reference standard defines a comprehensive framework for promoting gender equality in companies and organisations. It assesses areas including organisational culture, leadership, HR processes, equal opportunities in career advancement and professional development, remuneration, and work–life balance. The assessment is based on objective indicators and qualitative criteria.
For the Raiffeisen Association, this means regularly reviewing whether equal opportunities are genuinely practised in everyday working life. The areas analysed include recruitment and promotion processes, salary structures, training opportunities, internal mobility, and measures supporting work–family balance. The assessment also incorporated the results of the employee survey conducted in the spring, as well as measures to prevent discrimination.
“Equality cannot be measured by declarations of intent alone. What matters are transparent processes, traceable decisions and verifiable results. This is precisely what the certification seeks to ensure,”
explains Petra Öhler, who is responsible for staff development. The audit particularly praised the high participation rate in the employee survey and the Association’s consistent focus on measurable indicators. Moreover, the Raiffeisen Association has no gender-based differences in basic pay. “The proportion of women in leadership positions has also increased over the past three years,” adds Luisa Nena, Head of Human Resources and Labour Law.
In 2023, in addition to obtaining its gender equality certification, the Raiffeisen Association also successfully completed the familieundberuf audit for family-friendly workplaces. The two management systems complement each other and share the goal of continuously developing the Association as a modern, responsible and attractive employer.
“Today, highly qualified professionals expect more than job security. They want to work in an environment that offers opportunities for development, recognises performance and provides equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender or personal circumstances. We are continuously working towards this goal—and the renewed confirmation of our management system shows that we are on the right track,”
concludes Director General Christian Tanner.
With 214 employees, the Raiffeisen Association is one of the largest employers in South Tyrol’s cooperative sector. Its successful recertification reinforces its commitment to providing qualified professionals with a working environment founded on fairness, transparency, development opportunities and mutual respect.
