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Good practice Imported

Belgium's Gender Pay Gap Law: Mandatory Biennial Reporting and Action Plans

Belgium · Brussels · See the Belgium profile · See the Brussels profile

Evidence: Observational / pre–post Top 26% 85/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

Since 2012, Belgian companies with 50+ staff must file a biennial gender pay-gap analysis and, if a gap is found, an action plan. Belgium's 2024 private-sector pay gap (6.1%) is now the EU's lowest; the hours-adjusted national gap stood at 7.0% in 2023.

6.1%
Belgium private-sector unadjusted pay gap (2024)
11.1%
EU average private-sector pay gap (2024)
7.0%
Belgium hours-adjusted national pay gap (2023)
19.5%
Belgium unadjusted national pay gap (2023)

Details

Maturity
Established
Promoter
Institute for the Equality of Women and Men (IEFH/IGVM)
Period
2012–present
Region (NUTS)
BE10
Keywords
gender equality, labour law, pay transparency, public policy

Context

Belgium's Law of 22 April 2012 to Combat the Wage Gap between Men and Women requires private-sector employers with 50+ staff to file a biennial comparative pay analysis, and to draw up an action plan with the works council when an unexplained gap is found.

Results

Eurostat data shows Belgium's private-sector unadjusted pay gap fell to 6.1% in 2024, the lowest of any EU member state, while IEFH's own hours-adjusted national figure stood at 7.0% in 2023; the unadjusted national gap remains around 19.5%, reflecting Belgium's high rate of part-time work among women.

Implementation
Indicative cost
Low (< €50k)
Time to results
Long (> 3 years)
Staffing & skills
IEFH/IGVM statisticians, National Labour Council negotiators, employer HR teams and works councils

Conditions for success

  • using a standard reporting template negotiated with social partners rather than leaving format to each employer
  • requiring a consultative action plan whenever the analysis reveals an unexplained gap

Commonly funded by

National / regional programmes CERV — Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values

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Data sources

Where this practice's information was retrieved from, and when.

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