France introduces bill for salary transparency and gender pay equality

The French government has presented a bill to the Council of Ministers to transpose a 2023 European Union directive regarding salary transparency and gender equality. The legislation aims to ensure equal pay for men and women performing the same or equally valued work.

Under the proposed law, companies will be required to disclose information regarding their compensation levels. Employees will gain the right to compare their personal salaries against the averages of men and women in the same employment category within their organization. Furthermore, companies must include salary levels in job offers. The specific reporting obligations will vary based on company size and employment categories, and failure to comply may result in sanctions.

While France missed the initial June 2026 deadline for transposing the EU directive, the government described the new bill as “just, balanced, and modern.” Although some employer organizations, such as Medef, have criticized the measure, certain companies have already begun implementing voluntary transparency practices to prepare for the upcoming regulations.