The percentage of national companies working for salary transparency increased from 59% in 2024 to 72% in 2025, says a study by Mercer Portugal revealed this Tuesday, October 7. An evolution that seems to indicate that salary transparency is no longer just a regulatory obligation and becomes a strategic tool for organizations.
However, it is still early to draw conclusions. This is because the truth is that from June 2026 the European Directive on Salary Transparency will be transposed to national law, which requires companies to meet certain criteria, whether or not they wish. And that’s right admit the organizations heard by Mercer: “The European Union Directive on Salary Transparency, whose transposition to national law is scheduled for June 2026, is the main catalyst for 86% of companies that already address the theme”reads in the conclusions of the report Readiness Assessment – Salary Transparency. A study that tries to understand, above all, how companies are working to ensure that salaries are not impacted by factors such as gender difference.
Another relevant data that is pointed out in this publication is that the perception of salary justice in Portugal is considerably lower – 18% – than in the rest of the European Union. Especially considering that “salary justice is the second most important reason for an employee to remain in an organization,” according to another Mercer study, the global Talent Trends. “However, in Portugal, the perception of salary justice is 18% lower than the European average. Transparency in the communication of compensation programs can reinforce confidence and contribute to bridge this gap, “writes Mercer Portugal in a statement sent to the newsrooms.
“Despite the progress achieved, the study identifies various challenges. Lack of knowledge is one of the main ones: Quatro in ten organizations admit to having only a basic notion of salary transparency, which affects both those who already work the theme and those who do not yet do it. Of companies that already work on salary transparency, the majority (52%) also have a “moderate” familiarity with the theme, and among those that do not yet address it, Most (54%) have only one basic notion on the subject. “ It is also read in the conclusions.