S&D MEP Heléne Fritzon has asked the European Commission what action it will take against member states that missed the 7 June 2026 deadline to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive, warning that delays risk perpetuating hidden pay discrimination and worsening women's long-term economic security.
The written question, submitted on 17 June 2026, notes that only a small number of member states have confirmed full transposition of Directive (EU) 2023/970. Fritzon calls the directive 'not perfect' but argues that its failure to be implemented blocks progress on gender equality, prevents workers from accessing already-agreed EU rights, and leaves discriminatory pay structures unchallenged.
first, what measures the Commission will take against non-compliant member states; second, how it will ensure swift and effective implementation so women can benefit without further delay. The Commission is expected to reply within roughly six weeks, and its answer will signal whether it intends to launch infringement proceedings or pursue softer enforcement.
Fritzon's intervention targets the gap between EU-level ambition and national execution. The directive, adopted in 2023, requires employers to report gender pay gaps and grant workers rights to pay information. Delayed transposition means those rights remain theoretical in most member states, affecting women workers who face unequal pay, lower lifetime earnings, and reduced pensions.
Women workers across the EU stand to gain from the directive's transparency and enforcement tools, but continued delays leave them without legal recourse. Employers face uncertainty as compliance requirements vary by member state. National governments that have not transposed risk infringement proceedings and potential fines. The Commission's credibility on gender equality is at stake if it fails to enforce a flagship directive.