Ontario The First Province To Pass "Pay Transparency" Legislation

Ontario's Pay Transparency Act, 2018 (the Act) passed the Third Reading on April 26, making the province the first to pass legislation of this type.

What You Need To Know

• The Act introduces new rules around pay transparency measures, pay transparency reports, anti-reprisal rules, and compliance audits.
• The Act is expected to come into force on January 1, 2019.
• The legislation will have significant implications for employers in Ontario.¹
• The Act has been described by the Ontario government as central to "Then Now Next: Ontario's Strategy for Women's Economic Empowerment."²

The Details

Pay Transparency Measures

The Act prohibits employers from asking for compensation history information about an applicant. However, an applicant may voluntarily provide this information. The Act also mandates that all publicly-advertised job postings include the expected compensation or range of compensation for the position.