Compulsory Information Day for Swiss Women

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.

During the consultation procedure concluded before November 12, 2025, the majority of cantons and political parties expressed support for the project, recognizing the importance of gender parity and increasing the female quota in the armed forces. However, the cantons requested that the Confederation finance the additional costs (approximately CHF 3.3 million annually). The Federal Council maintained its previous position: financing remains a cantonal responsibility, exactly as it is for mandatory information days for men. The Executive deems the burden acceptable, with no canton having to bear more than CHF 600,000 per year.

What the information day provides

The information event provides a comprehensive overview: how military and civil protection services are structured, available functions, recruitment pathways, rights and obligations of persons serving. It is not counted as a mandatory service day—it does not use up part of the total days of instruction owed—but is considered an official summons. Employers must grant time off, both for male employees and for female employees.

Some consulted bodies reported issues of sexual harassment and gender disparities in the military. The Federal Council acknowledged these challenges and launched corrective measures within the framework of the Parity Strategy 2030, with the second package of measures on the diversity perspective in the military (2025–2027). An interim evaluation is scheduled for the second half of 2026. The military has also introduced specific measures against discrimination and sexualized violence.

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.

The estimated additional costs are CHF 3.3 million annually at the overall confederation level, distributed among 26 cantons. The maximum burden for a single canton is CHF 600,000 per year. The Executive judges these costs 'acceptable' considering the long-term benefit in terms of gender equality and female participation in defense institutions.

The Information Day: Content and Practical Implications

The information event is not a military training course, but rather a structured information opportunity. It covers organizational arrangements of services, available functions, recruitment pathways and career development, rights and obligations of enlisted persons. It is not counted as a mandatory service day—it does not consume part of the total instruction days owed—but it is formally an official summons. The practical implication is significant: employers must grant permission to be absent, regardless of considerations about the 'priority' of participation. For male workers this provision is already in effect; the reform extends it to female workers, creating equality of treatment.

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

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.

Addressing criticalities: complementary measures on gender equality

The Federal Council is aware that the mandatory participation obligation does not automatically solve the problems of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the army, reported by some bodies during the consultation. It has already initiated additional measures within the framework of the Confederation's Equality Strategy 2030, with the second set of measures on the perspective of diversity in the army (2025–2027). An interim evaluation of the measures is scheduled for the second half of 2026, shortly before the popular vote. Furthermore, the army has introduced specific measures against discrimination and sexualized violence to address the challenges identified.

What to do now: follow developments and know your rights

If you are a Swiss female citizen at compulsory school age or approaching the mandatory information service obligation, it is useful to keep track of upcoming developments: the popular vote is scheduled for 2028, and the ongoing parliamentary procedure will determine the exact formulation of the question submitted to the people. If the measure is approved, the information day will become mandatory starting at the beginning of 2030 for all Swiss female citizens, just as it is mandatory today for male citizens.

To understand the Swiss social security system (AVS, LPP, third pillar) and labor rights in the context of defense and civil protection services, consult official resources at the DDPS, competent cantonal administrations and local labor offices. Learn more about Swiss salary and social security calculations.

Source: admin.ch