New rules aimed at ensuring equal pay for equal work are now being fully enforced in Slovakia. Although the law came into effect in June, employers were given until the end of July to update their pay structures. From this week, labour inspectorates can begin checking whether companies are complying. The legislation implements an EU directive and is intended to help reduce the gender pay gap.
Labour Minister Erik Tomáš (HLAS-SD) says women in Slovakia still earn, on average, 16 percent less than men. According to him employees will now be able to request information not only about their own salary, but also about the average pay for comparable positions, allowing them to see whether they are being paid fairly.
If a pay gap of more than five percent cannot be objectively justified, employers will have to correct it. Workers who believe they have been treated unfairly can also turn to the labour inspectorate. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 100,000 euros.
According to Veronika Čábi from the Ministry of Labour's Gender Equality Department, the law also protects employees who exercise these rights. Employers are prohibited from discriminating against workers who request pay information or seek to challenge unequal treatment.
The legislation also introduces new reporting requirements. From next year, companies with more than 250 employees will have to submit annual pay reports, while firms with between 100 and 250 employees will report every three years. Employers must also ensure that recruitment practices are non-discriminatory, including the use of gender-neutral job titles in job advertisements.
Source: STVR, TASR
