Responding to the European Parliament plenary’s endorsement of a trilogue agreement with the Council on a new EU directive on an improved pay transparency, CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said:

“We welcome the European Parliament’s endorsement of the trilogue agreement on a new directive on equal pay for equal work or work of equal value. We call on the Council to follow swiftly.”

“We welcome in particular that the forthcoming directive picks up on a longstanding demand of trade unions to act on behalf their members in cases of suspected pay discrimination. The text only foresees a right to request and receive information on relative pay levels. However, many workers are intimidated and do not dare to ask employers themselves because fear consequences for their careers. An entitlement of trade unions to collect relative pay level information on behalf of their affiliates and to represent them in related administrative and judicial proceedings is an effective tool to make sure that suspected cases of pay discrimination will actually be pushed. Trade unions will be central to the success of the directive.“