Employers must take action to ensure that men and women are paid equally. This is stated in a bill that Minister Eddy van Hijum of Social Affairs and Employment has published online today. People can respond substantively until May 7, 2025. The bill stems from a directive by the European Commission regarding greater transparency in pay.

In the Netherlands, women still earn less than men. The hourly wage of women in the business sector is on average more than 16% lower than that of men. In the public sector, this wage difference is approximately 5%. Even when comparing the wages of men and women with similar background characteristics and similar jobs, differences persist. In the business sector, this wage difference averages nearly 7%. In the public sector, women earn nearly 2% less on average. This is evident from figures from CBS in 2022.

Directive

To promote equal pay between men and women, the European Commission has established a directive. This requires member states to take measures that ensure transparency in pay and strengthen the legal protection of employees. This bill incorporates these obligations into Dutch law.

With the new legislation, employers must, for example, ensure objective pay structures and be more open about salaries and pay differences within their organization. There will also be a ban on asking about the last earned salary in discussions about employment conditions. Employers with more than 100 employees must periodically report on pay differences. This should contribute to a better position for employees by providing them with more insight into (potential) pay differences.

The Ministry of SZW will work in the coming period, together with social partners, on information and tools for employers. This is to support employers in meeting the new obligations.

Would you like to respond?

You can respond until May 7, 2025 via internetconsultatie.nl.