EU countries have reached the 7 June deadline to bring the EU’s Pay Transparency Directive into national law, with the European Commission calling for equal pay rules to be applied in practice across the bloc.
Women in the EU earned 11.1% less than men on average in gross hourly pay, according to the latest figures from Eurostat cited by the Commission in a statement on Monday.
The EU executive said the difference reflects a range of factors including the undervaluation of jobs traditionally done by women and gender stereotypes affecting education choices, recruitment, promotions and pay.
The Commission stated that the directive, in force since 2023, is designed to help make the right to equal pay a reality by requiring clearer pay information and giving employers tools to check whether pay systems comply with the principle of equal pay.
The rules set out a framework for assessing “work of equal value” — meaning jobs that may be different but are comparable when measured against criteria such as skills, effort, responsibility and working conditions.
Funding and support for implementation
The Commission said it has worked with member states and other stakeholders since the proposal was being prepared, and has backed implementation with more than €3.8 million under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme.
A further €5 million has been allocated under a 2026 call for proposals to promote gender equality.
Nearly nine in ten people in Europe say it is unacceptable for women to be paid less than men for the same work, according to Eurobarometer survey findings referenced by the Commission.
