CESI’s eQualPRO project is dedicated to advancing gender equality in the workplace by utilising the European Union’s significant contributions over the years.

The EU has played a crucial role in promoting gender equality through hard legislation, soft law, case-law, and funding initiatives. The work of the EU reflects a long-standing commitment to ensuring equal pay for equal work and highlight its continuous efforts to foster workplace gender equality.

Despite these substantial efforts, gender-based discrimination remains a significant issue across all EU member states. Women continue to face unequal pay, biased hiring and promotion practices, limited access to training, maternity discrimination, and harassment. These challenges hinder female workers from reaching their full potential and demonstrate the persistent nature of gender inequality in the labour market.

The eQualPRO project is designed to address these ongoing challenges by focusing on three main objectives.

First, it aims to provide trade unions and workers with a comprehensive overview of the EU’s role in promoting gender equality at work. This historical perspective helps raise awareness about the benefits of EU initiatives and encourages trade unions to remain committed to advancing gender equality.

Second, the project focuses on current needs, particularly in the context of digital transformation and telework. By understanding the impacts of recent EU legislation and case law, CESI aims to support the effective implementation and enforcement of these measures at the national level.

Third, the eQualPRO project addresses the emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence and digital technologies. AI and machine learning have the potential to exacerbate gender biases if not properly managed, leading to unfair treatment of women in hiring, performance evaluation, pay, training, and career development. CESI aims to develop strategies to mitigate these risks and ensure that digital advancements drive greater gender equality rather than widening existing gaps.

By focusing on these areas, the eQualPRO project seeks to equip trade unions and workers with the knowledge and tools needed to promote gender equality in the evolving labour markets, ensuring that women can fully benefit from and contribute to modern workplaces.