ENSURING EQUAL PAY AND EQUAL TREATMENT IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AN ANALYSIS OF DIRECTIVE 200654EC

Abstract

This article analyzes the legal foundations of the principles of equal pay and equal treatment for men and women in employment and occupation based on Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Union. The study examines the role of gender equality within the legal framework of the European Union, the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, mechanisms prohibiting direct and indirect discrimination based on sex, and the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union in this field. Furthermore, the article explores the persistent gender pay gap in the Member States of the European Union, challenges in the implementation of the principle of equal treatment, and contemporary legal mechanisms aimed at addressing these issues. The findings demonstrate that Directive 2006/54/EC constitutes an important legal instrument for ensuring gender equality; however, enhancing its effectiveness requires strengthening pay transparency and improving enforcement and monitoring mechanisms.