Qu'est-ce que Pay Equity ?

Definition

Pay equity (or pay equality) is the principle that employees performing work of equal or comparable value should receive equivalent compensation, regardless of gender, ethnic origin, disability status or other personal characteristics. It operates at two levels: equal pay for the same work (direct equity) and equal pay for work of comparable value (broader equity).

In practice

In Belgium, the gender pay gap in gross hourly wages is approximately 5–6% (unadjusted) — smaller than the European average of 13% but still significant. The adjusted gap (controlling for sector, hours and seniority) is smaller but still positive, indicating unexplained discrimination persists. Legal framework includes the 2012 law on equal pay analysis, requiring large employers to conduct triennial pay equity analyses. The upcoming EU Pay Transparency Directive (to be transposed by June 2026) will require: pay range disclosure in job postings; right of employees to request information about average pay for comparable roles; mandatory reporting of gender pay gaps above 5%; and joint pay assessments where unexplained gaps are found. SIRH systems with built-in pay equity analytics are increasingly used to monitor gaps proactively rather than reactively.

Key takeaway

Pay equity is both a legal obligation and a business priority — unexplained pay gaps signal systemic bias that undermines fairness, retention and employer brand simultaneously.