EU salary‑transparency directive takes effect, prompting new pay‑gap rules in Italy, France and Portugal

The European Union’s salary‑transparency directive, adopted in 2023, requires employers to disclose average pay for jobs of equal value, ban requests for candidates’ previous salaries and publish salary ranges in job ads. The rule aims to combat gender pay gaps and improve overall wage transparency.

Italy enacted the measures on 7 June 2026 through decree 96/2026, making it compulsory for companies to disclose pay data in job postings and to provide employees with average salary information by gender. The law covers permanent, temporary and part‑time contracts, but excludes domestic work and intermittent employment.

France has yet to transpose the directive; the draft law is still under parliamentary review and is not expected to meet the 7 June deadline, with implementation likely pushed to 2027. The proposed French rules would require salary ranges in adverts, forbid salary‑history queries and shift the burden of proof of non‑discrimination onto employers.

Portugal also lags behind. Although the EU deadline passed, the Portuguese government says the transposition is “being finalised” and may be linked to a broader labour‑law reform. Until the legislation is enacted, Portuguese firms are not bound by the EU‑wide obligations.