From August 1, 2026, labor inspections in Slovakia started real checks of employers under the new law on transparent pay. If you are paid less than a colleague for the same work, and the difference exceeds 5% without objective reasons — this is no longer "just how it happened," but a violation of the law.
The law itself came into force on June 7, 2026, but employers were given a transition period until July 31 to bring documents and job postings in order. From August 1, the formality ended: inspections began.
What has changed for the employee
First, you have the right to ask the employer in writing for the average pay level for equivalent work in your company, broken down by gender. They must provide an answer within a reasonable time.
Second, the job salary amount must be known before signing the contract: the employer must inform the starting salary or its range at the interview stage.
Third, asking you about your previous salary is now prohibited. The recruiter cannot link the new offer to how much you were paid before.
The 5% rule and company reporting
The key marker of the law is a pay difference of more than 5% for the same or equivalent work. If it exists and the employer cannot explain it with objective criteria (experience, qualifications, results), it is discrimination that must be eliminated.
Large companies are now required to report on the pay gap between men and women:
250 or more employees — annual report;
100–250 employees — report every three years;
the first report — by April 15, 2027, mainly concerning companies with 150+ employees for the period from August 1 to December 31, 2026.
Fines for employers
The amounts are significant. For systematic violations of the law on transparent pay, companies face fines up to 100,000 euros. Separate penalties apply for violations in job postings and hiring, for example, for lack of salary information or questions about previous pay: here sanctions range from 4,000 to 8,000 euros.
What to do if you suspect inequality
Ask the employer in writing for the average pay for equivalent work — this is your right under the new law, not an offensive demand.
Record the answer or refusal to answer.
If the difference is over 5% without explanation — contact the Národný inšpektorát práce (National Labor Inspectorate), which from August 1 has the authority to check such complaints.
For those applying for jobs now, the law works in advance: demand the salary range before the interview and remember — asking about your previous salary is now illegal.
