Issue - Lack of Wage Parity in B.C.

B.C.’s human rights legislation requires employers to pay the same rate of pay to women and men doing the same or substantially similar work. While this is a reasonable mechanism to safeguard against current wage disparities, the mechanism falls short of adequately addressing historic disadvantage. Equal pay for work of equal value is a legislative requirement better suited to correct historic disadvantage and is better suited to attain true wage parity.

Equal Pay for Similar or Substantially Similar Work only allows comparisons between the same or similar jobs. This provision does not detect or challenge the unjustified lower wages of ‘women’s jobs’ as compared to equivalent ‘men’s jobs’.

Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value allows for the comparison of jobs of a different nature for the purpose of promoting equal pay among genders. It compares jobs based on overall skill, effort, responsibility, working conditions and organizational value. It addresses systematic wage disparities that exist across female vs. male dominated occupations.

Did you know:

In 2004, the average personal income of women in B.C. was 63% that of men. This disparity is even greater for ethnic minority women.

The rate by which the wage gap has declined has slowed significantly since the 1990’s. At the current rate of decline, a significant gap will exist for decades to come. This calls for a legislative requirement that is capable of attaining wage parity.

Wage parity will benefit both men and women. Implementing equal pay for work of equal value will not result in lower wages for men.

Canada has ratified international instruments that require equal pay correspond to work of equal value. In particular:

The Equal Remuneration Convention was adopted by the International Labour Organization in 1951 and ratified by Canada in 1972. It requires that governments take active measures to achieve equal pay for work of equal value.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, one of the three core universal human rights documents, adopted by the United Nations in 1966 and ratified by Canada in 1976, lists equal pay for work of equal value as a fundamental right.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted by the UN in 1979 and ratified by Canada in 1981, commits signatories to ensure equal pay for work of equal value.

B.C. legislators should move towards international compliance.

To learn more about this issue:

National Association of Women and the Law – Pay Equity