N-VA criticises new European pay transparency rules: “More red tape, little impact”

The new European pay transparency rules come into force this week. According to N-VA, however, they risk missing the mark. MEP Kris Van Dijck warns that businesses will once again be faced with additional administrative burdens, reporting requirements and legal uncertainty, without addressing the real causes of the gender pay gap. “Businesses have repeatedly warned about this in recent years. Unfortunately, those concerns have failed to resonate with the European Commission.”

European Commission stands firm

MEP Kris Van Dijck therefore called on the European Commission to postpone and simplify the new rules, but his request was rejected. European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib argues that the obligations are proportionate and that there are no plans to amend the legislation.

“While businesses around the world are engaged in fierce global competition, Europe continues to saddle its companies with more rules and administrative burdens,” says Kris Van Dijck. “The Commission likes to talk about Competitiveness The extent to which companies in one country can compete with similar companies in another country. A law came into force in Belgium in 1996 to monitor competitiveness. This stipulates that Belgian salaries may not evolve faster than the average of those in the three neighbouring countries. The Central Economic Council (CEC) performs an annual measurement to see if the objectives have been obtained. competitiveness , but when it comes to concrete policy files, that ambition too often remains a dead letter.”

Growing pressure on businesses

Under the directive, employees will have the right to request information on the average pay of colleagues performing work of equal value, broken down by gender. Where there are indications of possible discrimination, the burden of proof shifts to the employer. According to Kris Van Dijck, this could lead to complex procedures and significant costs.

Van Dijck stresses that equal pay for equal work is not in dispute.

“But these rules will not close the gender pay gap. The underlying causes often lie elsewhere: a shortage of childcare, an unequal distribution of caring responsibilities, and differences in working patterns and career choices.”

Eurostat Eurostat provides good statistical information to the European Union. As a statistical office, it also contributes to harmonising statistics so that data can be compared. One of Eurostat’s important tasks is to also improve the statistical systems in candidate Member States and developing countries. Correct, reliable figures are essential to good policies. That is why the N-VA prefers to base itself on the Eurostat figures. Eurostat figures point in the same direction. In Belgium, women earn on average 0.7% less per hour than men, while the gap in annual earnings is considerably larger.

“That shows the debate is not just about hourly pay. It is above all about the underlying factors that determine how many hours people work and how careers develop over time. That is where the real challenge lies.”

Hard to justify for Belgian businesses

Axel Ronse, who follows the file as parliamentary group leader in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, also warns about the consequences of the new rules.

“We fully support equal pay for work of equal value. But administrative burdens must be proportionate to the benefits they deliver for employees, especially for companies that are already making significant efforts. Belgium is among the best-performing countries in Europe when it comes to pay equality. It is therefore difficult to justify imposing additional burdens on our businesses to address problems that are far more prevalent elsewhere.”