Austria delays implementation of EU wage transparency directive

Austria has passed the 100-day mark since the deadline for implementing the EU wage transparency directive expired without national legislation. While Social Minister Klaudia Schumann (SPÖ) has submitted a draft, the proposal lacks approval from coalition partners ÖVP and NEOS.

The ÖVP has reportedly insisted on a prior agreement between employer and employee representatives. Meanwhile, NEOS has expressed concerns regarding potential excessive bureaucracy, or ‘gold-plating,’ of EU requirements.

The Green Party has criticized these delays, labeling the bureaucracy arguments as ‘sham arguments’ and emphasizing that the directive is a vital instrument for gender equality and women's rights.