What does the EU Pay Transparency Directive change for applicants?

Two points affect applicants directly — but both only take effect with the German transposition act: 1. Employers must state the starting salary or its range before the job interview — either in the posting or beforehand by other means. 2. Asking about salary history becomes unlawful. As of 28 July 2026 neither is in force. The transposition deadline for Directive (EU) 2023/970 expired on 7 June 2026; Germany let it pass. No ministerial draft bill exists, and an act is widely expected no earlier than 2027. Until then the Pay Transparency Act of 2017 applies unchanged. For public-sector employers the directive already takes effect: public-sector employees can invoke it directly under certain conditions. In the market the shift is so far only slowly measurable: the share of postings with a specific salary rose from 3.0% (May 2026) to 4.7% (July 2026). Once the amendment arrives, more than 95% of postings will have to change current practice. Legal information without warranty — this text is not legal advice.