On 17 September 2025, the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) published a parliamentary letter on the legislation implementing the EU Pay Transparency Directive, among other topics (see our previous article here). The anticipated timeline for implementation, 7 June 2026, has proven to be unfeasible. One of the main reasons is the need for additional time to shape the content and enforcement of national regulations in such a way that employers can meet their equal pay-related obligations effectively and with minimal administrative burdens.

The Dutch government aims to present the implementing bill to the Council of State by the end of 2025 and to parliamentary for its review in 2026. The target date for the legislation to take effect is no later than 1 January 2027, which implies that the Netherlands will not meet the EU's implementation deadline. The new reporting requirements for employers with 150 or more employees will first apply to the 2027 calendar year, instead of 2026.

Although the final version of the government's bill has not been published yet and how the directive will be implemented in practice remains uncertain, the amended timing provides medium-sized and large companies with a bit more room to prepare.

Click here for a summary of employer obligations under the directive.