Scientific Expertise: Implementation of the European Social Partner Agreement on “Women in Rail” (WIR Project)

Despite national differences in the proportion of men and women in the railway sector at European level, women remain under-represented in this field. In order to promote the employment of women, provide them with greater protection in the workplace and guarantee equality in the railway sector, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) have signed the European Social Partner Agreement ‘Women in Rail’ (WIR Agreement for short).

L&R Social Research was entrusted with the preparation of the first new ‘Women in Rail’ report based on this WIR Agreement and surveyed the status of implementation in European railway companies for eight areas of action and held workshops:

• General equality policy,
• Gender balance among employees at all levels,
• Gender-sensitive recruitment and new hires,
• Work-life balance,
• Career development for women,
• Gender-equitable pay policy,
• Health and safety at work, and
• Prevention of sexual harassment and sexism.

As part of the project, the research team was in regular contact with the Steering Committee (members of CER and ETF). The L&R Sozialforschung team was supported by Elvira González Gago as an external expert from Research4Consulting (Spain).

The new ‘Women in Rail’ report is available in nine languages. The full reports and a summary are available here: https://www.etf-europe.org/resource/women-in-rail-final-report/