Belgium delays EU wage‑transparency deadline, raising SME worries

The European Union adopted a gender‑pay‑transparency directive that must be transposed into national law by 7 June 2026. It requires firms with 100 + employees to publish pay ranges, lets workers request average salaries split by gender, bans asking about previous salaries and shifts the burden of proof to employers. Only three of the 27 EU member states – Italy, Slovakia and Lithuania – have met the deadline so far. Belgium failed to act in time and has asked the European Commission for a six‑month extension.

Belgian employers, particularly small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises, warn that the new rules could spark internal unrest. A survey of 627 Belgian SMEs by SD Worx found that 32 % expect workplace tensions, 40 % fear comparison talks between staff, 24 % are unsure about publishing obligations and 22 % cite administrative overload and complexity of pay scales as major worries. Almost half of the firms report little change in salary‑discussion practices, with regional differences noted – Wallonia shows more openness than other regions.

Business groups such as the VBO and Business Europe have criticised the proposal, arguing it could create bureaucratic burdens and hamper the ability to reward high‑performing employees. The European Commission counters that closing the gender pay gap could raise EU GDP by up to 9.6 % by 2050 and says it will not immediately impose fines for non‑compliance.