Women in Switzerland strike against gender inequality and gender pay gap

Several hundred thousand purple-clad protesters are striking en masse on Friday, in a 24-hour nationwide protest to highlight the country's poor record on gender equality and the gender pay gap.

The umbrella movement — which encompasses women from trade unions, feminist groups and women's rights organizations — argues that one of the world's richest nations has given half of its population a poor deal.

The action comes nearly three decades after women held the country's first nationwide strike for equal pay.

Minutes after midnight, the first protesters took to the streets under the demonstration's motto: "Pay, time, respect," kicking off a day of events aimed at drawing attention to a gaping divide in gender equality across the workplace and the home.

Demonstrations, workshops and marches are scheduled in towns and cities across the country throughout the day, with a nationwide walkout timed for 3:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. ET).

In a show of solidarity, some parliamentarians joined the strike, while other MPs wore purple -- the color adopted for the movement -- to signify their support.

Data from Switzerland's Federal Statistics Office claims that on average, in full-time employment, Swiss women earn 19.6% less than men. While that number has dropped by nearly a third over the last three decades, the discrimination gap — the gap in pay that has no explainable reason — is on the rise.

In a 19-point manifesto The Women's Strike Geneva Committee, who have co-organized the movement, has called for better protections for women facing domestic violence and abuse, migrant women and domestic workers, increased parental leave and support for the LGBTQ community, among others.