“Advancing gender equality is not just good for women, it’s good for all Canadians. When Canadian women can count on equal pay for work of equal value, our economy grows stronger, families prosper and communities thrive.”1
On October 29, 2018 Canada’s Federal government introduced legislation designed to equalize the earning potential of men and woman, Act to Establish a Proactive Pay Equity Regime within the Federal Public and Private Sectors (Pay Equity Act). Applicable to federally-regulated workplaces, the federal public service, Parliamentary workplaces and Ministers’ offices, the legislation takes a proactive approach to pay equity and will require employers falling within its scope to actively examine their compensation practices to ensure that men and woman are compensated equally for work of equal value.
The proposed Act also contemplates a Pay Equity Commissioner who will both enforce and educate with respect to the legislation. The Commissioner will have the power to initiate audits, conduct investigation and to issue orders and administrative penalties. Federally-regulated employers can contact DLA Piper Canada’s employment and labour lawyers for assistance in understanding these new obligations.
[1] Government of Canada introduces historic proactive pay equity legislation