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Glossary termPublished inPay Transparency

Labour inspectorate

Also known as arbeidsinspectie

What does "Labour inspectorate" mean under the Pay Transparency Directive?

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

Defined in / by

Last updated: 14 October 2026.

Where the labour inspectorate appears

The labour inspectorate is whichever body a Member State uses for control and inspection in the labour market. The definition leaves the choice to national law and practice, and allows the social partners to carry out those functions where national law provides for that. The Pay Transparency Directive gives it a role at several points:

  • Article 9(9): employers provide the gender pay gap by categories of workers to the labour inspectorate on request.
  • Article 9(10): the labour inspectorate may ask employers for clarifications of reported data, and employers remedy unjustified differences in close cooperation with workers' representatives, the labour inspectorate and/or the equality body.
  • Article 12(3): Member States may restrict information that would reveal an identifiable worker's pay to workers' representatives, the labour inspectorate or the equality body.
  • Article 21(2): a limitation period is suspended or interrupted when a claimant acts, among other routes, through the labour inspectorate.
  • Article 28(1) and (2): the competence of the equality bodies is without prejudice to that of the labour inspectorates, and Member States take measures to ensure close cooperation between them.

In the Netherlands

The explanatory memorandum to the Dutch implementing bill (Kamerstuk 36949) says the Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie is already the supervisor of the Wet gelijke behandeling van mannen en vrouwen and that the bill creates new supervision and enforcement powers for it. Officials designated by the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment can impose administrative fines for the duties listed in new Article 22. As at 13 October 2026 the bill is not yet law.

Questions and answers

Who is the labour inspectorate for pay transparency in the Netherlands?

Under the Dutch implementing bill (Kamerstuk 36949), the Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie, which already supervises the Wet gelijke behandeling van mannen en vrouwen. The bill gives designated officials powers to issue warnings, orders subject to a penalty and administrative fines. It was not yet law as at 13 October 2026.

Can a labour inspectorate see individual pay data under the Pay Transparency Directive?

Article 12(3) of Directive (EU) 2023/970 lets Member States decide that where disclosure under Articles 7, 9 or 10 would reveal the pay of an identifiable worker, only workers' representatives, the labour inspectorate or the equality body get access to that information.

Glossary

  • Workers’ representatives

    The workers’ representatives in accordance with national law and/or practice.

  • Equality body

    The body or bodies designated pursuant to Article 20 of Directive 2006/54/EC. Directive (EU) 2024/1500 deleted that Article; references to it are read as references to the equality bodies designated under Article 2(1) of Directive (EU) 2024/1500.

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