Published on
22/06/2026 - 8:00 GMT+2
In Europe, pay transparency is the exception, rather than the norm.
Europeans apply to jobs without knowing the salary, then to discover after several interviews that it is far below their expectations. Asking about pay levels is a no-go, while women still earn 11 per cent less than men, causing a 25 per cent pension gap, according to Eurostat.
The EU Pay Transparency Directive (2023) promotes fairness and equality in the workplace by ensuring greater transparency around pay. It changes how salary information is communicated, perceived, and discussed at work while closing the gender pay gap.
