From 2027, employers in the Netherlands must allow employees to see what their colleagues earn. This is part of a legislative proposal by Social Affairs Minister Hans Vijlbrief (D66). The bill implements a European directive that requires countries to provide clear insight into pay differences between men and women.
Under the proposed system, salaries for each role must be transparent. Employees will be able to view pay levels within their organisation and identify any wage gaps. This should help staff raise concerns about unequal pay at work.
Employers will also no longer be allowed to ask job applicants about their previous salary. Companies with more than 100 employees will have to report regularly on pay differences. These reports will be published on a dedicated website, making it easier to compare wage gaps across sectors.
The proposal still needs approval from both the House of Representatives and the Senate before it can take effect on 1 January 2027. If approved, companies with more than 150 employees must submit their first reports on pay differences by June 2028.
The gender pay gap in the Netherlands has been narrowing slowly. In 2024, women in the private sector earned nearly 15 per cent less per hour than men, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). For the same work, women earned on average 6.1 per cent less than men. Pay differences are smaller in the public sector.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
