The draft law on pay transparency will be presented to the Council of Ministers on September 9, announced Labor Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou. The text is intended to transpose a European directive adopted in 2023 aimed at strengthening equal pay for women and men. This announcement, made before members of the CFDT union, had been anticipated by labor unions for several months.
France was initially required to transpose this directive before June 7, 2026, but disagreements between unions and employers, along with a busy parliamentary schedule, delayed its adoption. The government now hopes to pass the legislation before the 2027 presidential election. Several other European countries are also behind schedule in implementing these new obligations.
Employees will be able to compare salary levels
The directive notably requires job postings to include a salary range. This will allow candidates to know the proposed salary level before an interview or hiring decision. Employees will also have the right to request information on average salaries paid to individuals performing work of "equal value," with a distinction made between men and women.
Companies will have to justify significant discrepancies that are not based on objective criteria and could be penalized in cases of discrimination. The French proposal still needs to specify the thresholds, monitoring procedures, and applicable sanctions. Presented as a tool to combat inequality, this transparency nevertheless risks creating tension within companies if it is not accompanied by a coherent revision of salary scales.
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