The Leiden Bio Science Park OR Community invites Works Council (OR) members to an interactive knowledge and networking session focused on the EU Pay Transparency Directive and its implications for organisations and employee representation.
The Directive:
The EU Pay Transparency Directive entered into force on 7 June 2023 and must be implemented in national legislation by 7 June 2026. Although the Netherlands has not yet implemented the Directive into national law, the legislative process is currently ongoing.
The Dutch implementation – expected through the Equal Pay Transparency Act – is anticipated to take effect around early 2027. In the meantime, the Directive already provides an important framework for organisations preparing for the upcoming obligations.
The Directive aims to strengthen pay transparency and promote equal pay between men and women by introducing new transparency requirements and enforcement mechanisms.
Under the forthcoming legislation, large organisations with more than 250 employees will be required to report annually on their gender pay gap, while organisations with more than 100 employees will report every three years. Where a gender pay gap of more than 5% is identified and cannot be justified by objective, gender-neutral factors, employers will be required to take measures to address and close the gap.
Works Councils will play an important role in monitoring transparency, engaging in dialogue with employers, and ensuring the proper implementation of the new rules within their organisations.
Event:
During this session, Employment Law and Employee Participation Attorneys at De Clercq Advocaten Notariaat, Jan-Pieter de Vos (Senior Associate) and Thomas Catersels (Associate), will provide an overview of the Directive and its expected implementation in Dutch law.
This will be followed by a practical negotiation skills workshop led by Mira Vasic and Lisa van Blaricum from InTouch Learning Lab, specifically designed for Works Council members.
In this interactive session, participants will learn practical negotiation strategies that can help them represent employees more effectively in discussions on pay transparency and equality.
Building on the legal insights from the first part of the session, participants will explore how to prepare for constructive dialogue with management, ask the right questions about pay structures, and advocate for fair and transparent compensation practices. Through practical examples and short exercises, OR members will strengthen their ability to influence discussions, balance cooperation with critical oversight, and contribute to solutions that support both organisational performance and equal pay.
The event also offers an opportunity to exchange experiences and connect with fellow Works Council members from companies across the Leiden Bio Science Park.
Program
14:30 – 14:45 | Doors open
14:30 – 15:00 | Welcome by Natalia Vtyurina
(LBSP OR Community Lead)
15:00 – 16:00 | Equal Pay Transparency Act
Presentation by Jan-Pieter de Vos & Thomas Catersels from De Clercq Advocaten Notariaat
16:00 – 16:15 | Q&A and short break
16:15 – 17:00 | Negotiation Workshop for Works Councils
Interactive session by Mira Vasic & Lisa van Blaricum from InTouch Learning Lab
17:00 – 18:00 | Networking drinks
This session is part of the LBSP OR Community, a growing network of Works Council representatives across the Leiden Bio Science Park that aims to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and strengthen collaboration between ORs.
Click on the link to register!
