The essay addresses the issue of the national implementation of directive 2023/970/EU, highlighting the peculiarities of the Italian context with regard to the relationship between the national pay system and the evaluation system required by the directive. The topic is examined with particular attention to the collective bargaining dynamics of equal pay, whose logic has been anticipated by past doctrine, updated to the implementation of the directive by 7 June 2026. Specific attention is given to gender-sensitive collective bargaining processes and the functioning of joint evaluation under the directive. The conclusions outline a roadmap for implementation, with reference to both the private and public sectors.