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ARTICLE · 16 JUNE 2023

Trending Towards Transparency: British Columbia Passes Pay Transparency Legislation

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On May 11, 2023, the B.C. government passed Bill 13, the 2023 Pay Transparency Act (the Act). According to a B.C. government news release published on International Women's Day...

CanadaEmployment and HR
Kelly O'Ferrall
Kelly O'Ferrall
Abigail Omale
Abigail Omale
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On May 11, 2023, the B.C. government passed Bill 13, the 2023 Pay Transparency Act (the Act). According to a B.C. government news release published on International Women's Day, the Act is aimed at reducing the gender pay gap. The news release also states that the province will be consulting with employers and other organizations, including unions, Indigenous organizations and other equity-seeking groups, in order to further its efforts to reduce the gender pay gap in B.C.

The key requirements of the Act are as follows:

  • Pay history: As of May 11, 2023, employers may no longer seek pay history information from most job applicants.
  • Pay secrecy: As of May 11, 2023, employers may no longer prohibit employees from disclosing pay-related information to other employees. Employers are also prohibited from dismissing, suspending, demoting, discipling or harassing any employee who asks their employer about their pay, reveals their pay to another employee or someone

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