EU Pay Transparency Directive: most countries missed the deadline, national laws now arriving
What’s happening
By early October 2026 only a few countries, including Italy and Slovakia, had fully transposed the directive. Germany's bill is still waiting for cabinet approval. Spain published a draft Royal Decree in August, Ireland has delayed and moved its pre-employment rules into a separate bill, and Poland so far has only its recruitment rules (in force since Dec. 24, 2025). The rules cover salary ranges for candidates, a ban on asking about pay history, objective pay criteria and gender pay-gap reporting.
What to do
Audit pay structures, job-ad salary ranges and pay-gap data now, because national laws may arrive at short notice and the first reports cover 2026 pay.
How Workbliss can help
Workbliss manager training helps leaders explain pay decisions clearly and handle pay conversations well.
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iuslaboris.com. Checked October 19, 2026.