EU in June launches a new phase of its salary‑transparency directive aimed at closing the gender pay gap across the bloc. The rule forces employers to publish pay ranges before hiring, obliges them to disclose salary data and criteria for pay and promotion, and requires large firms to report gender‑based pay differences. If a company’s gap exceeds 5 % without objective justification, it must take corrective action. The measure is expected to shock the labour market by exposing opaque pay practices, reduce inequality in the medium term and shift the long‑term culture towards fair, gender‑neutral pay. Romania, where the pay gap is smaller than the EU average but overall wages are low and transparency is weak, has yet to draft a national implementing act. With the EU deadline of June 2026 approaching, the country risks a rushed reform that could undermine the directive’s benefits. The article stresses that transparency is a tool, not a punishment, and warns that a hasty implementation could miss the chance to build a more predictable and equitable labour market.

Original article can be found here.