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Glossary termPublished inPay Transparency

Equality body

Also known as orgaan voor gelijke behandeling

What does "Equality body" mean under the Pay Transparency Directive?

The body or bodies designated pursuant to Article 20 of Directive 2006/54/EC:

Article 23 of Directive (EU) 2024/1500:

Article 20 of Directive 2006/54/EC and Article 11 of Directive 2010/41/EU are deleted. References to the bodies for the promotion of equal treatment referred to in those Articles shall be construed as references to the equality bodies referred to in Article 2(1) of this Directive.

Article 2(1) of Directive (EU) 2024/1500:

  • 1. Member States shall designate one or more bodies (‘equality bodies’) to exercise the competences laid down in this Directive.

Defined in / by

Last updated: 14 October 2026.

What the equality body does under the Pay Transparency Directive

An equality body under the Pay Transparency Directive is the national body for equal treatment of women and men. The Directive does not create a new one; it points to the body Member States designated under Article 20 of Directive 2006/54/EC. That article no longer exists. Directive (EU) 2024/1500, which Member States had to transpose by 19 June 2026, deleted it, and the consolidated text of Directive 2006/54/EC dated 19 June 2026 shows it removed. References to it now lead to the equality bodies designated under Article 2(1) of Directive (EU) 2024/1500. Recital 14 of that Directive calls the Pay Transparency Directive lex specialis on the matters it covers.

Within those matters the equality body is competent for everything in the Pay Transparency Directive (Article 28(1)). Workers may request pay information through it (Article 7(2)). It may receive the gap by categories of workers on request and ask employers for clarifications of reported data (Article 9(9) and (10)). It may act on behalf of or in support of a worker in administrative or court proceedings, with that worker's approval (Article 15).

In the Netherlands

The explanatory memorandum to the Dutch implementing bill (Kamerstuk 36949) refers individual complaints about discrimination to the College voor de Rechten van de Mens, under the Wet College voor de rechten van de mens.

Questions and answers

Is Article 20 of Directive 2006/54/EC still in force?

No. Article 23 of Directive (EU) 2024/1500 deleted it and provides that references to the bodies it covered are read as references to the equality bodies designated under Article 2(1) of Directive (EU) 2024/1500. The consolidated text of Directive 2006/54/EC dated 19 June 2026 shows the article deleted.

Can an equality body bring a pay claim for a worker?

Under Article 15 of Directive (EU) 2023/970, equality bodies may engage in administrative or court proceedings on behalf of, or in support of, a worker who is an alleged victim of an infringement of the principle of equal pay, with that worker's approval.

Glossary

  • Intersectional discrimination

    Discrimination based on a combination of sex and any other ground or grounds of discrimination protected under Directive 2000/43/EC or 2000/78/EC.

  • Labour inspectorate

    The body or bodies responsible, in accordance with national law and/or practice, for control and inspection functions in the labour market, save that, where provided for in national law, the social partners may carry out those functions.

Regulations

  • Pay Transparency Directive (Loontransparantie)

    The Pay Transparency Directive, Directive (EU) 2023/970, had to be transposed by 7 June 2026. The Dutch bill (Kamerstuk 36949) targets 1 January 2027 and has employers with 150 or more workers file a first pay gap report by 7 June 2028, on 2027. As at 13 October 2026 it awaits a vote in the Tweede Kamer.

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    Wet implementatie Richtlijn loontransparantie mannen en vrouwen enters into force