PSA Venice - Vecon - PSA Italy's terminal in the port of Venice - has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first container terminal in Italy, and the first one in Venice, to obtain gender equality certification: PSA Venice-Vecon's certification is an important step towards inclusion in the Italian shipping sector – said Roberto Ferrari, CEO of PSA Italy – The company is the first of its kind to obtain gender equality certification, a significant recognition that goes beyond mere regulatory compliance, and stands as an example of concrete commitment to a fair and inclusive working environment.

The certification, valid for three years and subject to annual monitoring to ensure that the standards achieved are maintained, was obtained through an assessment process based on the CEI EN ISO/IEC 17021-1 standard and the UNI/PdR 125:2022 Reference Practice, which defines the guidelines for gender equality management systems in organisations. The UNI/PdR 125:2022 is a document published by UNI that reflects the results of the discussion of the Working Table on the gender certification of enterprises envisaged by the PNRR Mission 5, coordinated by the Department for Equal Opportunities and attended by the Department for Family Policies, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, the Ministry of Economic Development and the National Equality Adviser.

PSA Venice - Vecon has demonstrated its commitment through concrete actions, including updating all HR protocols and the company's management system, making equity explicit in terms of gender equality, rather than generic ‘non-discrimination’, and demonstrating, through the calculation of specific KPIs (Strategic Assessment Areas) that gender equality principles are already embedded in the company, as well as presenting a strategic plan for further improvement for the next three years, with more clearly defined targets for 2026 and the implementation of a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards any form of discrimination, be it based on gender, origin or other characteristics.

The Strategic Assessment Areas indicated in the UNI/PdR 125:2022 Reference Practice and subject of the certification include pay equity, i.e. the absence of gender-based pay inequality, consistency between inclusion principles and the corporate vision, the presence of organizational headmasters and processes for inclusion, human resource management based on inclusion and respect, neutral access to career paths, and policies supporting parenthood and work-life balance.

Gender equality is a crucial factor for economic growth and development. - added PSA Venice general manager Daniele Marchiori - The full enhancement of women's talent is essential for economic progress, and the presence of women in decision-making positions is related to better business performance.