PayAuditArticle 7: the right to pay information
Any worker can ask in writing for their own pay level and the average pay levels, by sex, of workers doing the same work or work of equal value. There is no size threshold.
What workers can ask for
Their individual pay level and the average pay levels by sex for their category. Workers can ask directly or, under national law, through their representatives or an equality body.
Workers shall have the right to request and receive in writing, in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 4, information on their individual pay level and the average pay levels, broken down by sex, for categories of workers performing the same work as them or work of equal value to theirs.Source: EUR-Lex, © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu
Tell every worker, every year
Employers must inform all workers each year of the right and of how to use it.
Employers shall inform all workers, on an annual basis, of their right to receive the information referred to in paragraph 1 and of the steps that the worker is to undertake to exercise that right.Source: EUR-Lex, © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu
Two months to reply
The deadline runs from the date of the request. Our calculator adds two calendar months and doesn't move the date for weekends or holidays, which is the cautious reading.
Employers shall provide the information referred to in paragraph 1 within a reasonable period of time but in any event within two months from the date on which the request is made.Source: EUR-Lex, © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu
Small groups
In a category with very few women or men, averages can reveal one person's pay. Member States may restrict such figures to workers' representatives, the labour inspectorate or the equality body; Italy did.
Member States may decide that, where the disclosure of information pursuant to Articles 7, 9 and 10 would lead to the disclosure, either directly or indirectly, of the pay of an identifiable worker, only the workers’ representatives, the labour inspectorate or the equality body shall have access to that information. The workers’ representatives or the equality body shall advise workers regarding a possible claim under this Directive without disclosing actual pay levels of individual workers performing the same work or work of equal value. For the purposes of monitoring pursuant to Article 29, the information shall be made available without restriction.Source: EUR-Lex, © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu
Italy: once a year
D.Lgs. 96/2026 lets a worker make the request once a year. Whether that means per calendar year or per 12 months is not settled; answering when in doubt is the cautious choice.
Fermo restando quanto previsto dall'articolo 1, comma 1, lettera n), del decreto legislativo 26 maggio 1997, n. 152, e' riconosciuto ai lavoratori il diritto di richiedere e ricevere per iscritto, entro due mesi dalla richiesta, anche per il tramite dei loro rappresentanti o degli organismi per la parita', su specifica delega, le informazioni sui livelli retributivi medi, ripartiti per sesso, delle categorie di lavoratori che svolgono lo stesso lavoro o un lavoro di pari valore. Il diritto di cui al presente comma non puo' essere esercitato piu' di una volta all'anno.Original text in Italian.
Source: Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana, GU Serie Generale n. 125 del 1 giugno 2026 (codice redazionale 26G00112)
How to prepare
Keep a log of requests and their dates, know each worker's category and compute the category averages by sex ahead of time.
© European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu
General information, not legal advice. National rules can differ.