UNI/PdR 125:2022 — Gender Equality Management
Italian Reference Practice for Gender Equality Management Systems — published by UNI on 16 March 2022 within the Italian PNRR Mission 5. Issued by CAS as a non-accredited scheme to support organisations committed to measurable equity, inclusion, and ESG performance.
Standard
UNI/PdR 125:2022
Service type
By CAS
Issued under
CAS — own authority
What it is
UNI/PdR 125:2022 — "Guidelines on the management system for gender equality" — is a Prassi di Riferimento (Reference Practice) published by UNI, the Italian National Standards Body, on 16 March 2022. It defines requirements for a Gender Equality Management System (GEMS) measurable through specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The Reference Practice was developed under Mission 5 of the Italian PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), in connection with UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Italian Law 162/2021 (the "Gribaudo Law") and the 2022 Budget Law. It draws structural inspiration from UNI ISO 30415:2021 "Human Resource Management — Diversity and Inclusion". CAS issues UNI/PdR 125:2022 certificates on a non-accredited basis: the certificate demonstrates an evidence-based gender equality management system but does not carry Accredia accreditation and therefore does not, on its own, unlock the Italian regulatory benefits (social-security exemption, public-tender scoring) which are reserved to certificates issued by Accredia-accredited certification bodies.
Who needs it
Any organisation — private, public, or non-profit — of any size, sector, or legal form. Particularly relevant for: organisations operating in Italy or with Italian subsidiaries seeking ESG credibility; multinationals wanting a structured framework against UN SDG 5; companies under investor or buyer pressure to demonstrate gender-equity performance; and Egyptian or MENA-region organisations exporting to Italy or Europe wishing to align with EU sustainability expectations. VAT-registered entities with no employees are excluded by the Reference Practice itself.
Benefits of certification
- Structured, measurable framework to translate gender equality commitments into evidence
- KPI-driven assessment across six weighted areas — minimum 60% score for certification
- Strengthens ESG reporting and investor relations performance
- Aligned with UN SDG 5, UNI ISO 30415:2021, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive
- Improves attraction and retention of female talent and managerial diversity
- Reduces reputational and compliance risk linked to discrimination, harassment, and pay-gap claims
- Integrates with ISO 9001, ISO 45001, SA8000 and ISO 30415 management systems
- Demonstrates parity-of-treatment commitment to international customers and supply-chain partners
Audit process
CAS audits UNI/PdR 125:2022 against the requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 as a non-accredited scheme. The certification cycle follows the standard two-stage initial audit (Stage 1 documentation review covering policy, strategic plan, KPI baseline, governance, internal audit and management review; Stage 2 on-site verification including evidence sampling against the six KPI areas and mandatory mixed-gender / mixed-level interviews per the January 2026 Accredia/UNI FAQ). Certificates are issued for a three-year period subject to annual surveillance audits at months 12 and 24, with full recertification at the end of year three.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
Is the CAS UNI/PdR 125:2022 certificate accredited?
No. CAS issues UNI/PdR 125:2022 as a non-accredited scheme. The certificate is issued under CAS's own conformity assessment authority and follows the audit process defined in ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, but it does not bear Accredia accreditation. If you specifically need the Italian regulatory benefits attached to PdR 125 (1% social-security contribution exemption, premium scoring in public tenders), you must obtain certification from an Accredia-accredited certification body for this scheme.
Why would I take a non-accredited UNI/PdR 125 certificate?
Many organisations use UNI/PdR 125 as a structured framework for their gender-equality programme even without seeking the Italian regulatory benefits. A CAS non-accredited certificate is suitable for: ESG and sustainability reporting; supplier-qualification disclosures to international customers; demonstrating commitment to UN SDG 5 and diversity investors; preparing internally for a future Accredia-accredited certification by another body; and aligning your existing ISO 9001 / ISO 45001 / SA8000 management systems with a recognised gender-equality framework.
What are the six areas assessed?
Culture and strategy; governance; HR processes; opportunities for growth and inclusion of women; gender pay equity; protection of parenthood and work-life balance. Each area carries a weighted set of KPIs (weighting differs by company size band: micro, small, medium, large). A minimum total weighted score of 60% is required to be eligible for certification.
How long is the certificate valid?
Three years. Annual surveillance audits at months 12 and 24, followed by recertification at the end of year three — same structure as ISO 9001 and other CAS schemes.
Can UNI/PdR 125 be integrated with our existing management systems?
Yes. UNI/PdR 125:2022 references UNI ISO 30415:2021 (Diversity and Inclusion) and is designed to integrate with ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and SA8000. CAS can coordinate an integrated audit covering UNI/PdR 125 with one or more of your existing accredited certifications, reducing both audit time and cost.
What audit standard does CAS apply?
ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 — the general requirements for bodies auditing and certifying management systems. CAS applies the same two-stage audit cycle (Stage 1 documentation review + Stage 2 on-site verification), independent technical review, and certification decision process used for all of its accredited and non-accredited schemes.
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