UNI Europa launches new EU-funded project to improve gender equality in the commerce sector

In recent years, the commerce sector has experienced mounting challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing war in Ukraine and a growing emphasis on profit maximisation and sales growth. Transformations such as the rise of franchising, e-commerce, and automation have led to a decline in job quality, characterised by irregular hours, part-time work and job insecurity.

At the same time, the sector continues to struggle with gender imbalance, as women overwhelmingly occupy frontline roles like sales associates and cashiers, while men dominate leadership and managerial positions. These disparities often manifest as wage gaps, limited career advancement, and systemic issues such as discrimination, emotional labour and poor work-life balance.

Recognising the need for systemic change, UNI Europa Commerce is spearheading a new two-year, EU-funded project aimed at improving working conditions in the commerce sector through a gender lens. The project, IMproving working conditions through gender Perspective In Commerce (I’M Pinc), is designed to support affiliates in integrating gender perspectives into social dialogue at all levels, focusing on capacity building to promote equality and fairness in the sector.

The I’M Pinc project will involve comprehensive research, the development of guidelines and policy recommendations, as well as the organisation of workshops and training sessions aimed at improving both the quality of work and the attractiveness of the commerce sector from a gender equality standpoint. UNI Europa will provide critical resources to its affiliates, aiming to engage social partners and other stakeholders in driving meaningful change.

Although the project will primarily focus on six target countries – Belgium (SETCA-BBTK), Bosnia and Herzegovina (STBIH), Germany (Verdi), Italy (Uiltucs), the Netherlands (FNV), and Sweden (Handels) – the research, guidelines and policy recommendations generated through the project will be made available to all UNI Europa affiliates. They will be disseminated across UNI Europa Commerce network and other UNI Europa sectors with high presence of women, such as Care and Property services and among relevant industry stakeholders. This way, they will feed into the activities of trade unions at global, EU and national level to foster a more inclusive, gender-equal working environment.

UNI Europa Commerce will conduct a research which will be presented during two workshops in the Spring of 2026, where participants will have the opportunity to exchange good practices, discuss the research findings, and provide constructive feedback. These workshops will serve as key moments for the commerce sector to reflect on how gender equality can be better embedded within industry practices and policies, ultimately driving improvements in working conditions across Europe.

Through I’M Pinc, UNI Europa Commerce is committed to creating a commerce sector that offers more equitable, fair, and supportive working conditions for all employees, regardless of gender. By championing a gender perspective in social dialogue and policy-making, the project aims to set the foundation for long-lasting, positive change in the sector.