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Implied via equal-value standardEuropean Union

Is job evaluation required by law in France?

France guarantees equal pay for work of equal value in its Labour Code and measures employer pay gaps through the Gender Equality Index. The Index is indicator-based rather than a factor-based job evaluation, and is being reformed to align with the EU Directive's equal-value concept.

What the law requires

Equal-value principle in the Code; pay gaps measured via a 5-indicator Index.

Compensable factors referenced: None prescribed (Index is indicator-based).

The law

Code du travail; Index de l'égalité professionnelle (2019)
Index in force 2019
Citation: Code du travail; Décret n. 2019-15

What this means for employers

France does not name a specific evaluation method, but its equal-value standard means that when pay claims arise, jobs are compared on factors like skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions. A documented, analytical job evaluation gives employers the evidence base courts and regulators look for — without one, equal-value comparisons happen on someone else's terms.

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Informational summary of legal requirements, not legal advice. Verify against primary sources before relying on it.

Last reviewed: 2026-06-11