Feds usher in payequity legislation

The Liberal government introduced long-awaited payequity legislation Monday for federally regulated workers.

Labour Minister Patty Hajdu said the proposed proactive pay legislation is intended to close the gender wage gap and make sure everyone has a fair chance at success.

In 2017, Canadian women earned 88.5 cents for every dollar a man earned, as measured in hourly wages for full-time workers, according to government figures.

Under the proposed legislation, employers would need to examine their compensation practices and ensure women and men in workplaces that fall under federal jurisdiction receive equal pay for work of equal value.

It would apply to all federally regulated employers with 10 or more workers. That includes private-sector companies such as banks and railways, the federal public service, parliamentary workplaces, and the offices of the prime minister and other ministers.

Employers would also be required to identify job classes, evaluate work, and compare compensation associated with similar jobs dominated by men and women respectively.

But the government is allowing employers three years to establish pay-equity plans after the legislation comes into force. And it won’t come into force until a year after it passes and receives Royal Assent.