Prime Highlights-
- Roche Pharmaceuticals becomes the first global organisation in the UAE to earn Equal Pay Certification for women and men.
- Independent audit confirms women at Roche UAE receive equal pay for equal work, setting a benchmark for the region.
Key Facts-
- Forvis Mazars conducted the independent salary analysis that led to Roche’s certification from the EQUAL-SALARY Foundation.
- The achievement supports the UAE’s national framework on gender balance and equal pay for women in the workforce.
Background-
Roche Pharmaceuticals has become the first global organisation in the United Arab Emirates to win the new Equal Pay Certification, marking a significant win for women in the workplace.
The EQUAL-SALARY Foundation awarded the certification following an independent, data-driven salary analysis conducted by Forvis Mazars alongside an internal review.
The assessment confirmed that Roche pays women and men equally for the same work, or work of equal value, meeting the EQUAL-SALARY auditing standard. The certification supports the UAE’s broader framework on gender balance, giving women working across multinational organisations added confidence that fair pay practices are being independently verified rather than simply promised.
Mohamed ElShaarawy, General Manager for the UAE at Roche Pharmaceuticals, said the company performs at its best when every employee, including women, can reach their full potential and feel they truly belong.
He described the certification as proof of Roche’s commitment to an inclusive workplace where every individual is valued equally. Sona Parsons, Head of People and Culture UAE at Roche Pharmaceuticals, said the certification confirms that fairness for women and men is built into the company’s culture.
She added that recognising and rewarding women equally for their contributions strengthens the wider Roche community. Lisa Rubli, Chief Executive Officer of the EQUAL-SALARY Foundation, welcomed Roche as the first global organisation in the UAE to receive the certification.
She said the achievement reflects the UAE’s strong focus on advancing gender balance and hoped it would inspire other companies to pursue equal pay for women with the same determination.
The milestone positions Roche as a model for multinational companies across the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
