The provincial government has announced the details of its proposed pay equity and transparency legislation.

The legislation has been divided into two categories; Pay equity and pay transparency.

The provisions under pay equity will apply to all public sector employers with 10 or more employees, designate a commissioner under the public services commission as a Pay Equity Officer, and require public sector employers to implement compensation practices based four criteria. Those are skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions.

This part of the legislation will come into effect on April 1 of next year, except for public bodies.

The pay transparency portion will apply to employers in the public and private sectors, require employers to include info regarding pay in public job postings, require certain employers to prepare pay transparency reports, prohibit employers from requesting pay history from applicants, and prohibit employers from penalizing an employee or applicant from asking about or disclosing pay information, or requesting compliance with the act.

Consultations are anticipated later in the fall to inform the regulations of the act, and to determine next steps for pay equity in the private sector.

Pay equity provisions in the proposed Bill will:

• Apply to all public sector employers with 10 or more employees;
• Require public sector employers to implement compensation practices to value jobs based on four criteria: skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions; and
• Designate a commissioner under the Public Service Commission Act to act as the Pay Equity Officer.

Pay transparency provisions in the proposed Bill will:

• Apply to employers in the public and private sectors;
• Require employers to include information regarding pay in publicly advertised job postings;
• Prohibit employers from requesting pay history information from job applicants;
• Prohibit employers from penalizing an employee or applicant for inquiring about or disclosing pay information, or requesting that the employer comply with the Act; and
• Require certain employers to prepare pay transparency reports.