Most European Union member states failed to meet the June 2026 deadline for transposing the Pay Transparency Directive, which aims to strengthen enforcement of equal pay rules across the bloc. According to EuroNews, only four countries fully implemented the legislation before the deadline.
Those countries are Italy, Slovakia, Malta, and Lithuania.
Meanwhile, Belgium, Malta and Poland have only partially adopted the directive, while several other countries have delayed or not yet begun the legislative process.
New rules aim to increase salary transparency
From June 2026, employers across the European Union are required to publish salary ranges in job advertisements, stop asking candidates about their previous salaries, and allow employees to request pay information for colleagues performing equivalent work.
The directive also shifts the burden of proof to employers in cases where pay discrimination is suspected.
The objective is to reduce the gender pay gap and improve transparency throughout recruitment and compensation practices.
Several countries postpone implementation
According to EuroNews, the Netherlands has postponed implementation until January 2027, while Ireland has confirmed it will miss the deadline.
Authorities in Estonia have indicated they may choose to pay potential EU fines rather than implement the directive in its current form.
At the same time, five member states—including Austria, Hungary, and Luxembourg—have yet to take concrete legislative action.
Gender pay gap remains a challenge
According to EuroNews, women across the European Union earn 11.1% less per hour on average than men, with little improvement recorded over the past decade.
Gabriele Bischoff argued that the lack of salary transparency has contributed to maintaining these inequalities.
“The veil didn’t just hide gaps, it reproduced them,” she said.
Until all member states implement the directive, the rights guaranteed under EU legislation will continue to be applied unevenly across the bloc.
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