An electromechanical relay includes a relay housing enclosing a contact chamber of the relay and a contact arrangement arranged in the contact chamber. The contact arrangement has a movable armature and a coil for moving the armature, a shaft connected to the armature, and a contact bridge arranged on the shaft for contacting stationary relay contacts in the contact chamber. A monitoring switch with switch contacts for monitoring the switching state of the relay is arranged in the relay housing. The switch contacts can be actuated by an actuator displaced by the contact arrangement. The monitoring switch of the relay has a switch housing which is separate from the relay housing. Additional protection and improved sealing of the monitoring switch mechanism can be achieved as a result, which leads to a long-lasting and reliable function of the monitoring switch.