A significant shift is coming for employers across Europe with the impending transposition of the EU Pay Transparency Directive. Monica De Jonghe from the Federation of Belgian Enterprises (VBO-FEB) provided an in-depth, though challenging, analysis of the directive, highlighting key obligations, risks, and the path forward for businesses, particularly in Belgium. This article is an overview of what she said during the Hrpro conference on October 17, 2025. The Directive: A Complex New System While the VBO-FEB fully supports the directive's objective—equal pay for equal work to address the gender pay gap and combat discrimination—the implementation presents a complex challenge. The directive, published in May 2023, must be transposed into national law by June, 2026. A major point of contention is the detail and lack of flexibility in the directive, leaving "little leeway for negotiation during transposition," making it feel more like a regulation than a directive. This issue is compound