The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has criticised the Government over delays in implementing new European Union pay transparency rules, warning that the postponement will have a significant financial impact on working women and deepen concerns over wage inequality.
The EU Pay Transparency Directive, which is due to take effect across member states from Sunday, aims to tackle gender-based pay discrimination and narrow the persistent gender pay gap. However, Ireland has confirmed it will miss the deadline, with implementation expected to take place in phases rather than immediately.
Under the directive, employers will be required to provide salary information to job candidates before hiring decisions are made. Interviewers will also be prohibited from asking applicants about their previous earnings. In addition, employees will gain the right to request information on pay levels for comparable roles within their organisation. Companies with a gender pay gap exceeding 5% will be required to take corrective action.
ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy described the delay as “unacceptable” and warned of the economic consequences. He said the failure to transpose the directive on time will cost working women more than €570 million annually in lost wages. Reidy said the Government’s approach effectively leaves employers with an “indefinite free pass on unequal pay.”
Business groups, however, have raised concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding the rollout. Employers say the absence of detailed guidance has created uncertainty and made it difficult for organisations to prepare for compliance. HR consultancy Peninsula Ireland noted that companies are struggling to plan ahead, as they do not know when specific obligations will take effect.
Employer representatives have echoed these concerns. Ibec said businesses still lack essential information needed to implement the rules effectively and warned that organisations cannot be expected to comply without sufficient time and resources. The group stressed the importance of clear timelines to ensure a smooth transition once legislation is introduced.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality said the Government remains committed to full implementation of the directive but acknowledged that delays have affected many EU member states. Officials noted that most countries are expected to miss the original deadline of 7 June.
According to the department, the delay is partly due to late publication of EU-level guidance materials, including employer toolkits released earlier this year. It also pointed out that Ireland’s existing gender pay gap legislation already covers some aspects of the directive, reducing the scope of additional measures required.
The Government said work is continuing to finalise the remaining legal provisions and confirmed that implementation will proceed on a phased basis once legislation is passed. Officials added that engagement with employers and employee representatives will continue as part of the rollout process.
As debate continues, unions are urging faster action to ensure transparency in pay structures, while employers call for clearer guidance to avoid uncertainty and ensure compliance with the new EU framework.
