Women in the EU earn on average 12% less per hour than men, according to Eurostat. To address this persistent gender pay gap, the EU is introducing new rules on pay transparency designed to strengthen the principle of “equal pay for equal work”.
For millions of workers, knowing the pay range before applying for a job can mean the difference between negotiating confidently and settling in the dark, afraid it could hurt employment prospects.
The directive could finally do away with the hush-hush culture around salaries — levelling the playing field for younger staff, returners from parental leave, and anyone who has historically been underpaid for the same role.
Under the Pay Transparency Directive, EU Member States are required to implement the legislation by 7 June 2026. However, progress across the Union has been slow, raising concerns that several countries could miss the deadline next year.
