UNI/PdR 125: gender equality, measured.
UNI/PdR 125 is an Italian reference practice from UNI, Italy’s standards body, not an ISO standard: it measures an organisation’s gender equality policies with 33 indicators. Those who get certified can obtain a contribution exemption and extra points in tenders and funding calls.
What it is
Six areas, 33 indicators, a 60% threshold.
The practice requires a management system that measures, reports on and assesses gender equality policies. The indicators sit in six areas, each with its own weight: culture and strategy (15%), governance (15%), HR processes (10%), growth opportunities and inclusion of women (20%), pay equity (20%), parenthood protection and work-life balance (20%). To be certified you need at least 60% of the score.
Who needs it
- Companies bidding in tenders: the extra points are provided for by Italian law
- Companies applying for State aid from European, national or regional funds
- Companies that want the exemption from contributions to INPS, Italy’s social security institute
- Organisations of every size: for micro-enterprises, 8 indicators apply
What it brings you
Exemption from employer contributions of up to 1%, capped at €50,000 a year per company, for the whole duration of the certification. It is a cap, not a guarantee: if applications exceed the 50 million a year allocated, INPS reduces the benefit proportionally for everyone.
L. 162/2021, art. 5 c. 2; INPS, circolare 137/2022In tenders, contracting authorities award extra points to certified companies; if the tender documents provide for it, the guarantee is reduced by up to 20%.
D.Lgs. 36/2023, art. 108 c. 7 and art. 106 c. 8Bonus points in State aid from European, national and regional funds, for those certified by 31 December of the previous year.
L. 162/2021, art. 5 c. 3
The path
From self-assessment to certificate, in four steps.
- 1
Self-assessment
You measure where you stand today on the 33 indicators, area by area, with the organisation’s data and the national or sector benchmarks.
- 2
The management system
Gender equality policy, responsibilities, data collection and actions on the weak points.
- 3
Internal audit and review
Before the certification body, an internal audit and the management review show whether the score and the system hold up.
- 4
Certification audit
It is carried out by a body accredited by Accredia. For the INPS exemption, the certificate must bear the UNI mark and that of the accreditation body.
10ISO
How 10ISO will help you
The agents will do the work that repeats itself; decisions stay with you and whoever supports you. 10ISO is coming soon: this is what we’re building.
- The 33 indicators calculated from data the company already has: headcount, pay, promotions, leaveComing soon
- The score by area, with what’s missing to reach 60%Coming soon
- The deadlines: surveillance every year, reassessment every two, renewal every threeComing soon
- The evidence for the INPS exemption and for funding calls, ready to attachComing soon
Questions
The first questions people ask about UNI/PdR 125.
Is UNI/PdR 125 an ISO standard?
No. It is a UNI reference practice, published in Italy in 2022; the parameters for certification are set by the decree of 29 April 2022. It has no certifiable ISO equivalent: UNI ISO 30415 is only a guideline.
Is the INPS exemption really worth 1%?
The 1% and the €50,000 a year are caps. If applications exceed the 50 million allocated each year, INPS reduces the benefit proportionally for everyone; it applies for the whole duration of the certification.
Can a micro-enterprise get certified?
Yes: 8 indicators apply and you need a score of at least 21 out of 35.25. Only certifications issued by accredited bodies give access to the benefits.
Sources
Every reference on this fact sheet comes from one of these sources, checked on 28/09/2026. If a law or a standard changes, the fact sheet is updated.
Sources
- UNI/PdR 125:2022 — testo della prassi (Dipartimento per le Pari Opportunità) (opens in a new tab)
- Dipartimento per le Pari Opportunità — la certificazione (opens in a new tab)
- Dipartimento per le Pari Opportunità — certificazioni rilasciate e organismi accreditati (opens in a new tab)
- Accredia e UNI — FAQ sulla UNI/PdR 125, edizione 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- L. 162/2021, art. 5 — esonero e premialità (Normattiva) (opens in a new tab)
- INPS — circolare 137 del 27/12/2022 (opens in a new tab)
- UNI — parità di genere, un futuro da disegnare insieme (03/04/2026) (opens in a new tab)
- D.Lgs. 36/2023, art. 108 — criteri di aggiudicazione (Normattiva) (opens in a new tab)
- D.Lgs. 36/2023, art. 106 — garanzie per la partecipazione (Normattiva) (opens in a new tab)
Waiting list
We’ll write to you when 10ISO opens.
One minute: who you are, your email and the standard you’re interested in. It’s not a subscription and we don’t ask for a card.