Welcome to the April 2025 edition of the ILLN Newsletter.
This issue focuses on the fast-approaching implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive. Achieving equal pay for equal work or work of equal value has long been a central socio-political objective — yet reality continues to lag behind. The EU Pay Transparency Directive is designed to make this principle enforceable across the Union. For companies of all sizes, this brings increased transparency requirements, broader obligations, and a clear need for immediate action.
Equal pay is a core value of the European Union. Nevertheless, substantial pay gaps remain across member states. In 2023, Germany’s unadjusted gender pay gap was 18%, while Luxembourg reported a reversed gap of -0.9%, with women earning slightly more than men on average. The new EU Directive aims to deliver a more effective and harmonized framework. Going forward, pay structures across Europe must be built on objective, gender-neutral criteria — such as skills, responsibilities, workload, and working conditions.
In our newsletter, we take a closer look at how the Directive is being implemented across the different member states. Our contributors from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom offer valuable insights into the current state of implementation and the practical steps employers should take now.
We hope you enjoy reading it.