Vila Nova de Famalicão City Council is once again going to award the companies and Private Institutions of Social Solidarity (IPSS) in the municipality that stand out for developing policies and good practices to promote gender equality at work, in employment and professional training, and for adopting principles and measures to reconcile professional, family and personal life.

Applications for the second edition of the ‘+ Igual Award’ are open until 23 July, at www.famalicao.pt, and the awards ceremony is scheduled for 24 October, Municipal Day for Equality.

As well as honouring organisations that promote positive actions in the area of equality and publicising exemplary cases and measures, informing and raising awareness among managers and the entire community of the nature and importance of these measures, the ‘+ Igual Award’ also aims to promote the adoption of concrete measures aimed at equality between women and men in work, employment and vocational training and improving the quality of employment, particularly with regard to reconciling work, family and personal life.

Among the criteria for the award is the fact that organisations assume, objectively and with visible results, that equality is an integral part of their management, culture and strategy, including plural and balanced representation of women and men in management and decision-making positions; the existence of policies and good practices for reconciling professional, family and personal life in employers, namely through flexible or adaptable working hours, continuous working hours, part-time work and the signing of protocols with social facilities and/or neighbourhood services for children and other dependents, among others. 

In 2024, Vieira de Castro, ROQ and Associação de Moradores das Lameiras were the winning companies in the first edition of the ‘+ Igual Award’, with Continental receiving an Honourable Mention.

It should be remembered that this promotion takes place annually and is part of the Municipal Plan for Equality and Non-Discrimination, presented by Famalicão City Council in 2022.