By CAS

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.

By CAS — Not Under EGAC Accreditation

This certificate is issued by CAS without third-party accreditation for this scheme. It is not within the scope of EGAC Schedule 012418B and is not recognised under the IAF MLA. Per IAF MD 23:2023, CAS clearly differentiates accredited and non-accredited services on every page.

By CAS (Non-Accredited) UNI/PdR 125:2022
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UNI/PdR 125:2022
GEMS
What is Gender Equality Management Systems?

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 KPIs. 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 reserved to certificates issued by Accredia-accredited certification bodies.

Who Is This For?

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, and MENA-region organisations exporting to Europe.

Framework & Approach

UNI/PdR 125:2022 measures organisational maturity across six weighted KPI areas covering culture, governance, HR processes, growth opportunities, pay equity, and parenthood protection. To be eligible for certification, an organisation must achieve at least 60% of the weighted KPI score, with KPI weightings differentiated by company size (micro / small / medium / large).

Six KPI Areas
1. Culture and Strategy
How gender equality is embedded in the organisation's values, vision, long-term direction, leadership commitment, and external communication. KPIs include the presence of a documented gender equality policy, integration into strategic planning, and visible leadership endorsement.
2. Governance
The structures and accountability mechanisms managing equality initiatives — including the dedicated Steering Committee, board-level oversight, gender composition of governance bodies, and the assignment of management responsibility for the GEMS.
3. HR Processes
How recruitment, onboarding, performance management, training, internal mobility, and exit interviews support equal treatment. Includes gender-neutral job descriptions, structured interview panels, and gender-disaggregated workforce data.
4. Opportunities for Growth and Inclusion of Women
Access to promotions, leadership positions, succession planning, mentoring/sponsorship programmes, STEM-track development, and professional learning. KPIs measure the female share at each management tier and the female promotion ratio.
5. Gender Pay Equity
Measurement and reduction of the gender pay gap — base salary, total compensation, variable pay, and benefits. The organisation must document its pay-gap analysis methodology and the corrective actions taken.
6. Parenthood Protection and Work-Life Balance
Policies supporting flexibility, parental leave (maternity / paternity / optional parental leave clearly separated per the January 2026 FAQ), remote and hybrid work, returning-parent re-onboarding, anti-harassment controls, and employee wellbeing.
Important Notice — Scope of Recognition

IMPORTANT — Scope of recognition: CAS issues UNI/PdR 125:2022 certification as a non-accredited scheme. The certificate is issued under CAS's own conformity assessment authority and is suitable for ESG reporting, supplier-qualification disclosures, and internal-improvement purposes. It is NOT issued under Accredia accreditation: organisations specifically seeking the Italian regulatory incentives (the 1% social-security contribution exemption, scoring premiums in Italian public tenders, or the 30% reduction in provisional guarantee for service/supply contracts) must obtain certification from a certification body accredited by Accredia per ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 for this specific scheme. CAS will guide clients on the choice of pathway during the application discussion.

Key Benefits
  • 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
Certification Process
1
Application & Review
Submit your application. CAS reviews your organisation's scope, personnel, sites, and activities to prepare a detailed audit time calculation and formal commercial proposal.
2
Stage 1 — Document Review
On-site or remote review of your management system documentation, readiness assessment, and confirmation of Stage 2 audit scope and plan.
3
Stage 2 — On-site Audit
Full on-site audit of the implemented management system against the standard's requirements. Findings are reported; nonconformities must be closed before certification.
4
Certification Decision
CAS's independent certification committee reviews the audit findings and issues the certificate. The certificate is valid for 3 years.
5
Surveillance & Recertification
Annual surveillance audits (~1/3 of initial audit time) maintain certification. Recertification audit (~2/3 of initial time) is conducted before certificate expiry to renew for a further 3 years.
Audit Time: 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; Stage 2 on-site verification including mandatory mixed-gender / mixed-level interviews per the January 2026 Accredia/UNI FAQ). Certificates are valid for three years with annual surveillance at months 12 and 24.
Frequently Asked Questions
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, you must obtain certification from an Accredia-accredited certification body for this scheme.
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 preparing internally for a future Accredia-accredited certification.
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. A minimum total weighted score of 60% is required to be eligible for certification.
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.
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.
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 + Stage 2), independent technical review, and certification decision process used for all of its accredited and non-accredited schemes.
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