Italy Posts Salary Data in Job Ads as Germany Misses EU Transparency Deadline
19.06.2026 - 07:23:20 | boerse-global.de
Job seekers in South Tyrol now see exact pay figures in many online listings. An IT support role is advertised at around €25,000 gross annually, a back-office position at €31,000, and a sales job between €25,000 and €35,000. The change follows Italy’s on-time transposition of the EU Pay Transparency Directive.
Germany, by contrast, has let the transposition deadline—June 7, 2026—come and go without action. While the Slovak Republic, Lithuania, Italy and Malta have all transposed the directive into national law, Berlin remains in the planning phase. The risk of infringement proceedings from the European Commission grows with each passing week.
Federal Women’s Minister Karin Prien faces mounting criticism. Resistance to the new transparency obligations is strong, particularly from private-sector employers. Under current planning, the core regulations will not take effect until 2027, with specific information rights for employees delayed until 2028.
Legal experts caution that the indirect effect of EU law already carries risks for employers. While direct lawsuits are not yet possible, the looming threat of sanctions from Brussels could prove costly if the Commission acts.
The German Education Union (GEW) has condemned the delay. “Equal pay for equal work is a fundamental right,” the union stated, noting that Germany’s gender pay gap of 16 percent reflects structural inequality. Employers must be required to disclose discriminatory pay differences, the GEW argues, and the public sector bears special responsibility.
The pay transparency debate lands on an economy already strained. Since January 2026, the national minimum wage has stood at €13.90 per hour. A DIHK survey of 15,000 businesses reveals the pressure: 25 percent of companies had to adjust wages. In the hospitality sector, that figure reaches one in two; in retail, 38 percent.
Responses vary. 40 percent of firms plan to raise prices, and 13 percent are considering staff cuts. Among hospitality businesses, one in four expects to reduce headcount. Eastern Germany feels the pinch most acutely: 29 percent of firms there adjusted wages, and 52 percent intend to increase prices.
Alongside the pay directive, companies face new administrative burdens. By July 31, roughly 29,000 firms must register with the Federal Office for Information Security under the NIS2 directive. Over 10,000 are still non-compliant, risking fines up to €500,000 and personal liability for executives. Starting today, a mandatory revocation button for online shops also takes effect.
