151.1

English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.

Federal Act
on Gender Equality

(Gender Equality Act, GEA)

of 24 March 1995 (Status as of 1 January 2011)

The Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation,

based on the Articles 4 paragraph 2, 34^ter paragraph 1 letter a, 64 and 85 section 3 of the Federal Constitution¹, and having considered the Federal Council Dispatch dated 24 February 1993²,

decrees:

Section 1: Purpose

Art. 1

Section 2: Equality at Work

Art. 2 Principles

Art. 3 Prohibition of discrimination

Art. 4 Discrimination through sexual harassment

Art. 5 Employees’ rights

Art. 6 Reduced burden of proof

Art. 7 Actions and appeals by organisations

Section 3: Special Provisions for Employment Relationships governed by the Code of Obligations³

Art. 8 Procedure in the case of discriminatory refusal of employment

Art. 9 Procedure in the case of discriminatory dismissal

Art. 10 Protection against dismissal

Art. 11 and 12

Section 4: Legal Protection in the case of Public Employment Relationships

Art. 13

Section 5: Financial Aid

Art. 14 Promotion programmes

Art. 15 Advice centres

Section 6: Federal Office for Gender Equality

Art. 16

Section 7: Final Provisions

Art. 17 Transitional provision

Art. 18 Referendum and commencement

Commencement Date: 1 July 1996⁴

Annex
- Amendment of Federal Acts

AS 1996 1498

¹ [BS 1 3; AS 1981 1243]
² BBl 1993 I 1248
³ SR 220
⁴ Federal Council Decree dated 25 Oct. 1995 (AS 1996 1503)