MCESD discusses implementation of Pay Transparency Directive with social partners

The Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) brought together social partners and representatives from the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) for a discussion on the Pay Transparency Directive and its implementation in Malta.

The meeting was held in the presence of the Minister for European Funds, Social Dialogue and Consumer Protection, Keith Azzopardi Tanti, and MCESD Chairperson Maria Micallef. The session included a presentation by DIER, followed by feedback from social partners and a discussion on the planned next steps.

The discussion provided social partners with an opportunity to raise questions, seek clarifications and share their perspectives on the practical implementation of the new requirements within Maltese workplaces.

The Pay Transparency Regulations introduce several measures aimed at strengthening transparency and gender equity in the workplace. These include rights to information on pay, requirements relating to salary information during recruitment, gender pay gap reporting for certain employers and mechanisms addressing unjustified pay gaps.

Minister Keith Azzopardi Tanti highlighted that the discussion itself was driven by the social partners and emphasised the importance of listening to their experiences. “This was a highly interesting session and discussion, initiated and requested by the social partners themselves, focusing on the Pay Transparency Directive. Together with DIER, we had the opportunity to listen to what the social partners had to say so that we can continue improving our work in this area,” said Minister Keith Azzopardi Tanti.

MCESD Chairperson Maria Micallef also underlined the importance of continued dialogue in ensuring that the implementation process is clearly communicated to the respective members represented by the social partners. Ms Micallef mentioned that “the discussion between the social partners addressed a number of clarifications that needed to be discussed. Through dialogue with social partners, we can communicate more effectively with their respective members on the best way forward for implementation, ensuring that the process is carried out as effectively as possible and with minimal negative impact on employers and employees.”

Director General of DIER, Diane Vella Muscat said that engagement with social partners provides an important insight into how the legislation is being experienced within workplaces. “We had a very interesting dialogue on the Pay Transparency Directive. Now that the legislation has been published, we were able to discuss its implementation and what is being encountered in workplaces. This helps us, as the regulator, to better understand the realities on the ground. Social partners are often our eyes and ears, and it is important that we continue working with them to ensure pay transparency and that workers receive what they are entitled to,” continued Ms Vella Muscat.

The meeting reaffirmed the role of the MCESD as a platform for structured social dialogue, bringing together Government, social partners and relevant institutions to discuss legislative and policy developments affecting the workplace.

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