Minister for Family Affairs Karin Prien, a member of the CDU, defended the EU’s controversial directive on pay transparency.
She remarked to the Funke Media Group’s newspapers that it is hard to accept that women in Germany still earn, after adjustments, roughly six percent less than men in comparable positions. “The pay‑transparency directive provides clarity – equal work must be paid equally, for men and women” she said.
When asked whether employee resentment would rise if salaries had to be disclosed, Prien replied that it comes down to corporate culture and how firms handle such tools. “Many German companies already see fair and transparent pay structures as a competitive advantage” she added.
Prien emphasized her intent to implement the directive “as bureaucratically light as possible”. She pointed out that competitiveness is the key concern for Germany today. Digital solutions will be made available to help even smaller businesses meet the new requirements.
