Changes in the Polish Labor Code and the Implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive
A new article in Rzeczpospolita raises the alarm: the larger the company, the greater the pay gap between men and women. The gap widens with career advancement, and women aged 35-44, often returning from maternity leave, feel its impact the most.
A comparison of median wages across different positions shows that the largest pay gap, at 44%, concerns board members. However, this gap reflects differences in earnings based solely on gender across the entire population and does not account for wage discrepancies between men and women for the same work or work of equal value.
This is where the EU Pay Transparency Directive (2023/970) comes into play. EU Member States are required to implement it by June 7, 2026, at the latest. The directive aims to increase pay transparency and ensure fair treatment of all employees. It strengthens overall transparency in wage policies while also introducing new obligations for Polish employers, including the requirement to submit periodic reports.
The Polish Parliament (Sejm) has already begun work on incorporating the new regulations into the Labor Code. One of the key proposals under discussion is the requirement for employers to disclose the proposed salary in job postings.
The draft amendments to the Labor Code have been submitted for public consultation, and many stakeholders have expressed their opinions on the proposed regulations. However, most believe that the changes are selective and that a more comprehensive approach to implementing the directive is necessary. More details are available on the Sejm website: here.
Source: Rzeczpospolita: https://www.rp.pl/wynagrodzenia/art41900811-place-pokolen-kobiet-sa-nizsze-od-zarobkow-kolegow-z-pracy