Kibar Holding becomes the first Turkish holding company to receive ‘EQUAL-SALARY’ certification

July 2024

Having implemented numerous initiatives to promote gender equality over many years, Kibar Holding became the first Turkish holding company to receive the ‘EQUAL-SALARY Certification,’ awarded by the Swiss-based EQUAL-SALARY Foundation, which independently evaluates wage inequality in organizations.

As one of Türkiye's leading industrial organizations, Kibar Holding blazes the trail in contributing to gender equality. Kibar Holding became the first Turkish holding company to receive the ‘EQUAL-SALARY Certification,’ awarded to organizations that meet the necessary criteria by the Swiss-based EQUAL-SALARY Foundation, which independently evaluates wage inequality in organizations.

Haluk Kayabaşı, CEO of Kibar Holding, stated that the ‘EQUAL-SALARY Certification’ is a result of the Group's long-standing efforts in promoting gender equality over the years. Kayabaşı further explained, 'Gender equality is a crucial aspect of the sustainability approach we place at the center of all our activities within the Kibar Group. As a signatory to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), our Group's initiatives for promoting gender equality are resulting in an increasing number of female employees each year. We have implemented various initiatives for gender equality through the 'WE Are Equal' platform, which we established as part of the Kibar Group’s 2025 Sustainability Strategy.'

Kayabaşı emphasized that they have taken another step towards their sustainability goals by demonstrating through the ‘EQUAL-SALARY Certification’ that Kibar Holding pays their female and male employees equal wages for equal work. Kayabaşı stated, ‘In light of the core values that have defined us since our foundation, we will continue to strengthen our existing corporate culture, which is based on fairness and equal opportunity, while also promoting gender equality.’

Founded in 2010, the EQUAL-SALARY Foundation summarizes its mission as developing a practical and scientific tool that enables companies to verify that they pay their female and male employees equally for the same role. The Foundation's certification process was developed in collaboration with the University of Geneva, which specializes in labor market issues, and leading auditing firms from around the world.