Women across Switzerland are taking part in a national strike today protesting the "unacceptably slow" movement towards gender equality.

The 'Frauenstreik' comes 28 years after hundreds of thousands of women took to the streets in the country demanding action on equality.

Thousands refused to come in to work this morning, with demonstrations planned around the country throughout the day.

Many more will leave at 3:30pm – cutting their day by 20% to highlight the Swiss gender wage gap.

A woman protests in front of the University Hospital during a nationwide women's strike in Geneva, 14-06-2019. Image: Martial Trezzini/Keyston

Women in Switzerland did not get the right to vote until 1971 and at the time of the 1991 strike, there were no women in Government.

Paid maternity leave was only introduced in 2005 and until 1985, women needed permission from their husbands to work or open a bank account.

Women remain underrepresented in the workplace with nearly 70% of middle and senior management positions held by men, according to the International Labour Organisation.

Meanwhile childcare remains expensive and in short supply.

People protest during a nationwide women's strike, 14-06-2019. Image: Laurent Gillieron/Keystone

Organisers of the strike said they are aiming to show that “nothing works without the visible and invisible work of women.”

They argue that, even though gender equality was included in the Swiss constitution in 1981, women are still treated differently in their everyday lives.

They said they have been forced to take to the streets because their arguments have “fallen on deaf ears” until now.