France misses EU deadline to enact salary‑transparency law

The European Union adopted a directive on pay transparency on 10 May 2023, requiring all member states to transpose it into national law by 7 June 2026. France will not meet that deadline. Labour minister Jean‑Pierre Farandou announced that a draft bill will be submitted to the Council of Ministers in June, with a vote hoped for before the end of the year. Union leader Béatrice Lestic of the CFDT said the text is still being refined after tripartite talks with employers and the labour ministry, and that further inter‑ministerial meetings are needed before it can reach parliament.

Employers have mounted strong opposition, warning of increased costs and administrative burdens. Frédéric Coirier, CEO of Poujoulat and co‑chair of the METI employers’ movement, warned that the directive could become “a monster of complexity.” The public‑sector version also awaits finalisation, with the categorisation of equal‑value jobs still pending a decree. Delays mean the intended improvements in gender pay equality and salary‑gap visibility will be postponed.