What concretely changes for Swiss women with the mandatory information day?

Currently the information day is mandatory for Swiss males and voluntary for women. With this reform (if approved in 2028), it will also become mandatory for women. It is not counted as a mandatory day of service-it does not consume part of the total education days due-but it is considered an official summons: employers must grant time off, as they do today for male employees. The day provides information on structuring of military and civil protection services, careers, recruitment, rights and obligations.

When does this decision of the Federal Council come into effect?

The Federal Council approved the message on 9 September 2026. Now Parliament is examining it. The measure requires an amendment to the federal Constitution, so a popular vote is expected in 2028. If approved, implementation should take place in early 2030. The timeframe allows the cantons to prepare organisational and logistical preparations.

Who will have to participate in the information day once implemented?

Starting in 2030 (if approved), the day will be mandatory for all Swiss citizens of the corresponding age, just as it is mandatory today for male Swiss citizens. It is not counted as a mandatory day of service, but is considered an official convocation.

How much does the implementation of the reform cost and who pays?

The estimated annual additional costs are CHF 3.3 million in total. The Federal Council has decided that the funding remains the responsibility of the cantons, just as it is today for mandatory information days for men. The maximum a single canton will have to support is CHF 600'000 per year. During the consultation, the cantons had requested that the Confederation cover the costs, but the Executive maintained the previous position.

What federal laws need to be changed to implement this reform?

The reform requires an amendment to the Federal Constitution and adaptations of several federal laws: the Military Law, the Military Penal Code, the Federal Law on Military Information Systems (governed by the DDPS, Department of Defense, Population Protection and Sports) and the Federal Law on Population Protection and Civil Protection. Coordination between the federal level and cantonal administrations explains the broad timeframe until the early 2030s.

Compulsory Information Day for Swiss Women (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 9 September 2026

Swiss institutional government building with national flag, representing federal administration and policy decisions

The Federal Council approves the message for a mandatory information day on the army and civil protection. Popular vote in 2028, implementation early 2030.

Context

In brief

Federal Council approves mandatory information day for women (September 9, 2026)
Requires Constitutional amendment and popular vote in 2028
Implementation planned for early 2030 if approved
Annual costs CHF 3.3 million charged to the cantons

Key Facts

What: Mandatory information day on military and civil protection
When: September 9, 2026 (decision); 2028 (vote); early 2030 (implementation)
Where: Switzerland (all cantons)
Who: Federal Council, Swiss female citizens
Costs: CHF 3.3 million annually (max CHF 600,000 per canton)

The Federal Council approved on September 9, 2026 the message to introduce a mandatory information day on the military and civil protection for Swiss female citizens. Today this day is mandatory for men, voluntary for women. The reform aims to eliminate this asymmetry and promote equal opportunities, increasing female participation in defense and population protection sectors.

A reform towards gender parity in the military

Currently, the voluntary nature of female participation creates significant informal obstacles. Interested female citizens encounter difficulties reconciling this choice with professional and personal commitments, while employers have less incentive to grant time off for non-mandatory participation. By making the information day mandatory for women as well, the Federal Council aims to provide female citizens the same access opportunities as men and to legitimize with employers the obligation to grant leave.

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Operational details

Removing Informal Barriers to Female Participation

The status quo reveals a structural asymmetry with concrete effects on participation. Men have a legal obligation to participate in the information day; women have a voluntary choice. Theoretically a freedom, in practice it creates unequal effects. Many female citizens find it difficult to absent themselves from work for non-mandatory participation, especially in companies where permission is not formally guaranteed. Employers recognize the right to leave for a legal obligation, but apply it more strictly when it comes to personal choices. By making the information day mandatory for women as well, the Federal Council aims at two parallel objectives: to provide female citizens with the same access opportunities as men, and to legitimize with employers the obligation to grant leave—eliminating legal ambiguity.

Financing: Comparing Confederation and Cantons

During the consultation procedure, the cantons requested that the Confederation cover the additional costs completely. The reasoning was based on fiscal subsidiarity: if the Confederation introduces a new requirement for citizens, it should bear the resulting burdens. The federal Executive rejected this argument, stating that diversifying financing based on sex would entail an unacceptable overlap of responsibilities between the two levels of government. Today, the cantons finance the mandatory information days for men; it should be the same for women, according to the Confederation's perspective.

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Key points

The path to implementation: timeline and legislative steps

The Federal Council decision of September 9, 2026 is not yet law. The message is now submitted to Parliament for legislative examination. The introduction of a mandatory information day for women requires an amendment to the Federal Constitution, which necessarily means a popular vote. The federal executive has planned that the vote will take place in 2028, after the parliamentary deepening work.

If approved by Swiss citizens and cantons in 2028, the actual implementation should take place at the beginning of 2030. This time span of approximately four years—from decision to implementation—allows cantons to prepare the logistical aspects, organize the schedule of information days, train the personnel in charge and coordinate communication with the female citizens concerned in each territory.

Regulatory adjustments required for implementation

The reform involves changes to various federal laws, coordinated at the federal level. The executive must adjust the Military Law, the Military Criminal Code, the Federal Law on Military Information Systems (governed by DDPS, Department of Defence, Population Protection and Sport) and the Federal Law on Population Protection and Civil Protection. Each regulatory adjustment must be coordinated between the federal level and cantonal administrations, which explains the broad time span between the current approval and the planned entry into force.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What concretely changes for Swiss women with the mandatory information day?: Currently the information day is mandatory for Swiss males and voluntary for women. With this reform (if approved in 2028), it will also become mandatory for women. It is not counted as a mandatory day of service-it does not consume part of the total education days due-but it is considered an official summons: employers must grant time off, as they do today for male employees. The day provides information on structuring of military and civil protection services, careers, recruitment, rights and
When does this decision of the Federal Council come into effect?: The Federal Council approved the message on 9 September 2026. Now Parliament is examining it. The measure requires an amendment to the federal Constitution, so a popular vote is expected in 2028. If approved, implementation should take place in early 2030. The timeframe allows the cantons to prepare organisational and logistical preparations.
Who will have to participate in the information day once implemented?: Starting in 2030 (if approved), the day will be mandatory for all Swiss citizens of the corresponding age, just as it is mandatory today for male Swiss citizens. It is not counted as a mandatory day of service, but is considered an official convocation.
How much does the implementation of the reform cost and who pays?: The estimated annual additional costs are CHF 3.3 million in total. The Federal Council has decided that the funding remains the responsibility of the cantons, just as it is today for mandatory information days for men. The maximum a single canton will have to support is CHF 600'000 per year. During the consultation, the cantons had requested that the Confederation cover the costs, but the Executive maintained the previous position.
What federal laws need to be changed to implement this reform?: The reform requires an amendment to the Federal Constitution and adaptations of several federal laws: the Military Law, the Military Penal Code, the Federal Law on Military Information Systems (governed by the DDPS, Department of Defense, Population Protection and Sports) and the Federal Law on Population Protection and Civil Protection. Coordination between the federal level and cantonal administrations explains the broad timeframe until the early 2030s.