The European Commission rejected corporate lobbying against pay transparency, sending a clear signal to capitals to press ahead with its implementation.
The June deadline for member states to put the directive into national law is fast approaching. But some governments have made slow progress. Meanwhile, Business Europe continue to campaign to re-open and weaken the directive.
The Commission drew a line under the issue in the Gender Equality Strategy published yesterday, which says: “The Pay Transparency Directive is a game changer for tackling pay discrimination and the undervaluation of female-dominated jobs, which are root causes of the gender pay gap. The Commission will continue to support Member States in the effective and timely implementation of this Directive.”
The strategy also commits the Commission to bringing forward action needed to address violence against women at work as part of the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act. Recognising violence and harassment as a key psychosocial risk that requires stronger prevention and protection measures for workers across the EU is a step in the right direction.
Isabelle Schömann, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said:
“The Commission has sent a clear message: the pay transparency directive is here to stay. National governments who hedged their bets must now make up for lost time and work hard to ensure they meet the forthcoming transposition deadline.
“This commitment will be a huge relief to the 10 million workers who stood to lose 4.8 billion Euro a year in unpaid wages if Business Europe’s demands for a weaker directive had been acted on.
“The representatives of male-dominated boardrooms lobbied so hard against this directive because they know the huge gender pay gaps that will be revealed by it cannot be justified .Pay transparency is good for all workers – men and women – and will boost competitiveness by helping companies overcome labour shortages exacerbated by low pay.”
“Finally, the strategy recognises the need to make workplaces safe for all women workers. We will take the Commission at its word and work towards workplace free from gender-based violence."
