Decent and safe working conditions: how She Drives is changing standards in public transport

A separate focus was placed on creating conditions under which the working environment in transport enterprises is safe, dignified and accessible for women and men without discrimination.

This component has become critically important, as the demand for comfortable working conditions in the industry is extremely high, while in practice, female and male drivers often face a lack of basic infrastructure, unsuitable living conditions and outdated approaches to work organization.

Training on gender equality and inclusion

An important step was the training on compliance with the principles of gender equality and social inclusion for employees of municipal transport enterprises, in particular for the teams of 3 pilot enterprises:

– Poltavaelectroavtotrans KP;

– Miskyi trolleybus KP;

– Lviv municipal ATP-1.

Based on the analysis of internal documents and interviews with employees, the She Drives team developed standard gender policies for these three utilities, which define the company’s commitments and approaches in the following areas:

– equal rights in employment relations;

– access to positions and professional development;

– occupational safety;

– prevention of violence, harassment, and discrimination based on gender, gender identity, and other forms of inappropriate behavior.

The adaptation and approval of these policies at the pilot enterprises allowed to translate the topic of gender equality from the theoretical level into specific management decisions and local acts.

Inspired by this experience, the Zaporizhelektrotrans KP also approved the Policy on Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men in the Workplace.

This step became a significant example of how utilities can move towards changes in practice.

Strengthening management capacity

A separate component of the project was dedicated to working with managers of municipal enterprises. A series of online webinars was held for them on:

– risk management;

– corporate governance;

– implementation of a compliance system.

These activities were aimed at strengthening the management capacity of municipal enterprises, reducing operational and reputational risks, and ensuring transparency and effectiveness of management decisions in the transport industry.

During the events, managers actively participated in discussions, asked questions regarding the practical implementation of compliance procedures and the exchange of experience between enterprises.

The knowledge gained created the basis for further improvement of management procedures and the implementation of more transparent and responsible management practices in the transport industry.

Information materials and combating discrimination

As part of the systematic work to implement modern standards of corporate culture and a safe working environment, information materials were developed and posted in several municipal enterprises on:

– prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace;

– combating discrimination;

– forming zero tolerance for any forms of inappropriate behavior.

In particular, these materials were transferred to the Zaporizhelektrotrans KP, Lviv Communal ATP-1 and Khmelnytskyi KP "Electrotrans" as part of preventive and educational measures aimed at supporting a positive working atmosphere and strengthening a culture of mutual respect.

Information materials perform an educational function and contribute to raising awareness among employees about corporate standards of behavior, principles of equality and respect, as well as response mechanisms in case of violations.

As a result of the implementation of this initiative, teams received clear guidelines on the inadmissibility of any forms of discrimination or harassment, which enhances the feeling of safety and responsibility in the workplace.

Analytics for sustainable solutions

Based on monitoring pilot municipal enterprises, the She Drives team also conducted an analytical study “Gender Gaps in Municipal Transport”.

Its goal was to identify key barriers faced by women in the profession of public transport driver, as well as to formulate practical recommendations for overcoming them.

Key results of the study:

– 70% of women noted that their profession is perceived by society as “atypical” for women;

– the level of income of women in the field is 25-30% lower than that of men;

– 78% of respondents reported deterioration of working conditions due to increased safety risks;

– infrastructure remains inadequate – women’s restrooms and rest areas are often missing.

At the same time, the study revealed positive practices that are already being implemented at individual enterprises and demonstrate effective approaches to overcoming gender barriers. For example, in the KP "Electrotrans" women make up about half of the team, the enterprise actively involves women in training to become trolleybus drivers, uses gender-sensitive language in vacancies and creates conditions for combining work with parenthood. KP "Poltavaelectrotrans" and KP "City Trolleybus" demonstrate a systematic approach to ensuring gender balance, the development of women in management positions and adaptation personnel processes to the needs of different groups of employees.

Based on the study, key areas for increasing gender equality and improving working conditions at municipal transport enterprises were identified:

– Introduce gender equality policies and mechanisms for responding to discrimination.

– Ensure equal access to social guarantees, medical care and safe working conditions.

– Take into account the needs of employees in terms of working hours, rest and family support.

– Modernize vehicles and the working environment to reduce physical strain.

– Conduct regular training on gender equality and inclusion for management and staff.

👉 The full text of the study is available at the link: https://cutt.ly/6tkzBVc2

The She Drives project demonstrates that changes in the transportation sector begin not only with training new professionals but also with creating systemic conditions in which equality, safety, and respect become the norm of daily work.

The project "Expanding the professional potential of women in the field of transportation" is being implemented by the NGO Foundation for Institutional Development on the initiative of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, in partnership with UN Women and under the financial support from the governments of France, Poland and Sweden.