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Woman in front of EU flag
Photo: Virginia Mayo / AP
According to the will of the EU Commission, companies with more than 250 employees must in future make public how much men earn compared to their female colleagues.
In addition, employers should be prohibited from asking applicants about their previous income.
This emerges from a draft directive of the EU Commission, which should lead to more gender equality on the labor market.
An income gap between men and women, the so-called gender pay gap, also exists in Germany.
With the same job and comparable qualifications, women received six percent less money than their male colleagues in 2018, according to information from the Federal Statistical Office.
According to a study, Germany ranks third from last in a European comparison.
The EU Commission's draft also provides for a mandatory investigation by employers and employee representatives if a company finds a wage difference of five percent or more.
This should only not take place if the employer can justify the difference with "objective, gender-neutral factors".
In addition, employees who were affected by discrimination in terms of wages should be entitled to compensation.
The draft directive is now being coordinated between the EU Parliament and the EU countries.
Once the institutions have passed the directive, the EU governments have to transpose it into national law within two years.
The Commission also calls on the Member States to set sanctions and minimum penalties for violations.
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ssu / dpa
