Minister Karin Prien of the CDU defended the controversial European Union directive on wage transparency. She told the Funke‑Media Group outlets that it is hard to accept that women in Germany still earn, even when adjusted, about six percent less than men in comparable roles. “The pay‑transparency directive brings clarity because the same work should be paid equally – for men as well as for women” she said.
When asked whether revealing salaries would breed resentment in the workplace, Prien replied that it depends on corporate culture. “In Germany there already are many companies that believe fair and transparent pay structures are a competitive advantage” she explained.
Prien emphasized that the directive should be implemented as bureaucratically light as possible. With digital tools on hand, even small businesses can meet the requirements, she added, stressing that competitiveness is the decisive issue for Germany.