Compliance checking and publication of Gender Equality Action Plans

The Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector (CGEPS) would like to acknowledge the considerable time and effort that defined entities have put into the development and submission of their Gender Equality Action Plans (GEAPs), which were due on 31 March 2022 (except for those entities that have been granted extensions).

Our team will shortly commence reviewing GEAPs for compliance against the requirements listed under section 10 of the Gender Equality Act 2020. Reporting platform users will receive an email notification that the status of their GEAP submission has changed to ‘checking for compliance’.

We anticipate that the compliance checking process for GEAPs will take approximately 8 to 10 weeks from date of submission. We appreciate your patience as our small team works through this rigorous process, led by Commissioner, Dr Niki Vincent. An outline of this process can be found at the bottom of this page.

All reporting platform users will be notified of the outcome of the GEAP compliance check once completed. Following notification, the Commission will also allow some time for defined entities to make any required changes.

Once the compliance checking and resubmission process (if required) has been completed, defined entities will be notified that they should publish their GEAP on their website and notify their governing body, employees and employee representatives of that publication within a reasonable time.

The timeframe for publishing GEAPs on the Commission’s website will be confirmed shortly, noting this will not occur before June 2022. We will advise defined entities before GEAPs are published on the Commission’s website. Organisations that would prefer to provide a graphically designed copy of their final GEAP for publication by the Commission should notify us immediately.

If your organisation would prefer to publish its GEAP before receiving a compliance check outcome from the Commission, you are welcome to do so. However, please ensure you note on the webpage accompanying your GEAP that it may be subject to change following feedback from the Commission.

Following the compliance checking process, the Commission will be undertaking further in-depth qualitative analysis of GEAPs with a view to improving our guidance materials and training and showcasing best practice examples that will support defined entities to strengthen their strategies and measures to progress gender equality.

Thank you again for your work to progress gender equality in your organisation.

Access a copy of the compliance checking process map below.