Legislation will require wage transparency in BC

New legislation introduced yesterday by the provincial government will require employers to include wage or salary ranges on all advertised jobs. The move is aimed at closing the gender pay gap in BC. The new law, once passed, will prohibit employers from asking prospective employees about their pay history or prevent staff from disclosing their own pay to co-workers or job applicants.
 
The rules will take effect Nov. 1, and will also include a staged implementation of reporting requirements for employers.

  • Nov. 1, 2023: BC Public Service Agency and Crown corporations 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.

 
BC’s Ministry of Finance will publish an annual report by June 1 that will serve as centralized reporting of gender pay in British Columbia.