EU wage‑transparency directive spurs salary‑pay reforms in Romania and Italy

The European Union’s wage‑transparency directive will take effect on 7 June 2026, giving employees the right to request information about their own pay compared with the average for similar roles and to demand justification for any differences.

In Romania, a Mirro study of 100 companies finds that half lack complete salary grids and 73 % cannot easily explain wage differences. Informal knowledge of pay gaps has already created tensions in about a quarter of firms, with many workers requesting raises or leaving over perceived inequity. Only 6 % of firms have formally discussed the upcoming directive with staff.

Italy has introduced Legislative Decree 96/2026 to transpose the same EU rules. The law obliges public and private employers to disclose initial salary ranges in job ads, bans asking candidates about previous salaries, and requires transparent criteria for pay and promotions, except for domestic workers and firms with fewer than 50 employees which face simplified requirements. Both countries aim to curb the gender pay gap and improve pay‑fairness through greater transparency.