The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour is calling the provincial government’s Pay Equity and Pay Transparency legislation “woefully inadequate.”

The Federation of Labour says the new legislation, announced this week, is behind the times and will not do the “heavy lifting” required to close the gender pay gap.

The federation says the legislation was developed without prior consultation with unions, and does little to address the systemic undervaluing of jobs that are traditionally performed by women and gender-diverse people.

Meanwhile, debate got fiery at times in the House of Assembly yesterday afternoon. The NDP’s Jim Dinn called the legislation “meaningless” without adequate consultation with workers.

He suggested that government bring the bill back in the spring sitting, and “do it right.”