New pay transparency laws in B.C. now in effect

As of today (Nov. 1), B.C. employers are now required to include salary or wage information on all publicly posted jobs.

The policy is part of B.C.’s Pay Transparency Act, which passed into law this year.

The act means B.C. employers are no longer able to ask prospective employees about their salary history or punish employees who disclose their pay to co-workers or potential job applicants.

Kelli Paddon, parliamentary secretary for gender equity, said people deserve equal pay for equal work.

“Making sure transparent wage or salary information is included in all job posting helps make sure people are being offered the same pay for the same work,” Paddon said. “In addition to historic investments in child care and employment-and-skills training, this is another step forward as we continue to take action to address the pay gap.”

While improvements to the pay gap can be seen in recent years, according to Statistics Canada, women in B.C. are paid 17 per cent less than men. The pay gap disproportionately impacts Indigenous women, women from visible minorities and immigrant women.

While average hourly wages for men were $35.50 last year, Indigenous women earned an average of $26.74 per hour, visible minority women earned an average of $27.44 per hour and immigrant women earned an average of $28.78 per hour.

Also starting this month, large and medium-sized employers in B.C. will gradually be required to publicly post reports about their gender-pay gap. This requirement is being introduced in phases so the province can work with employers and give employers time to prepare, as follows:

* Nov. 1, 2023: BC Public Service Agency and Crown corporations and public agencies with more than 1,000 employees (ICBC, BC Hydro, WorkSafeBC, BC Housing, BC Lottery Corporation and BC Transit)

* Nov. 1, 2024: all employers with 1,000 employees or more

* Nov. 1, 2025: all employers with 300 employees or more

* Nov. 1, 2026: all employers with 50 employees or more

To learn about the Pay Transparency Act, click here.