Table of Contents:

1. What is Gender Equality Certification

2. Regulatory Framework and Provided Incentives

3. How the UNI/PdR 125:2022 Certification Works

4. Benefits and Implications for Companies

5. How MetrikFlow Can Support You

1. What is Gender Equality Certification

The Gender Equality Certification is a formal recognition that certifies an organization's commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for women and men, both in terms of job access and professional growth, as well as remuneration. It is a strategic tool that promotes a culture of inclusion, helping to reduce the gender gap and create fair and participative work environments. In Italy, this certification is based on the UNI/PdR 125:2022 practice, introduced in 2022 to offer a shared and measurable methodology. The topic fully fits within the 'Social' dimension of ESG and is also significant in the context of European policies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 5 on gender equality.

2. Regulatory Framework and Provided Incentives

Even though the certification is not mandatory, the Italian legislator has introduced an incentive system that encourages its adoption. Certified companies can benefit from:

• a tax relief equal to 1% of social security contributions, up to a maximum of €50,000 per year;

• preferential scores in public procurement tenders;

• 20% reduction in guarantees required in calls for bids;

• access to public funds to support the certification process, especially for SMEs and micro-enterprises.

In addition to these economic levers, there are reputational and competitiveness aspects: demonstrating attention to gender equality strengthens brand image, improves attractiveness for talents and investors, and allows alignment with international best practices.

3. How the UNI/PdR 125:2022 Certification Works

The certification is based on a model articulated in six thematic areas:

• Culture and Strategy

• Governance

• HR Processes

• Growth and Inclusion Opportunities

• Pay Equity

• Work-life Balance and Parenting

Each area includes a series of qualitative and quantitative indicators, weighed according to a scoring system. To obtain certification, it's necessary to achieve at least 60% of the total required score. The process generally includes an initial audit, an implementation/improvement phase, and a check by an entity accredited by Accredia. The certification duration is three years, but it is subject to annual checks to ensure continuity and effectiveness.

4. Benefits and Implications for Companies

Investing in gender equality brings advantages on multiple fronts:

• Strengthening Company Climate: more inclusive environments favor worker well-being and reduce turnover and absenteeism.

• Increased Attractiveness for Female Talents: inclusive policies help attract and retain qualified resources.

• Reputation Improvement: the certification represents an important asset in terms of CSR and ESG communication.

• Economic and Market Advantages: tax benefits and tender rewards increase competitiveness.

The challenge is to truly integrate the culture of equality into the company strategy, avoiding superficial approaches that risk turning into greenwashing operations.

5. How MetrikFlow Can Support You

MetrikFlow helps to simplify and automate the path to certification, thanks to an integrated digital system that allows you to:

• Continuously monitor the KPIs required by UNI/PdR 125;

• Collect and organize the necessary documentary evidence;

• Identify gaps to be filled with intuitive dashboards;

• Manage improvement plans with assigned and trackable tasks;

• Integrate data into sustainability reports and ESG reports.

With MetrikFlow, you turn gender equality management into a structured, measurable process aligned with international standards, reducing operational burdens and increasing success probabilities in the certification process.