Parità retributiva di genere e ruolo del sindacato in Italia, tra strategie giudiziarie e processi negoziali

This article examines the Italian implementation of EU Directive 2023/970 on pay transparency and equal pay, focusing on the role of Trade unions in both collective bargaining and litigation strategies aimed at reducing the gender pay gap. The Authors highlight the shortcomings of Legislative Decree no. 96/2026, which only partially transposes the Directive and presumes the compliance of job-classification systems set out in the most representative collective agreements. The article argues for the adoption of genuinely gender-neutral job evaluation criteria and a review of classification and performance-related pay systems. It also emphasises the complementary relationship between collective bargaining and judicial enforcement in addressing pay discrimination. Finally, the contribution connects gender pay equality to the broader debate on «fair wages», advocating a closer integration between wage policies and measures to combat gender inequalities.