Pay Transparency Act

The Pay Transparency Act, tabled at the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly last week, aims to create a transparent and fair work environment.

If the legislation is passed, it would require employers to include salary ranges in job postings. It would also forbid employers from using a potential employee’s past salary history to decide compensation and would protect employees from facing consequences for discussing their wages.

Chair of the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity, Raphaëlle Valay-Nadeau, says pay transparency lays the groundwork for implementing pay equity in the private sector.

“This act sends a powerful message that transparency and equity are essential for building an inclusive workplace where every individual has the opportunity to thrive,” said Valay-Nadeau.

The act is also meant to address systemic pay gaps that exist in workplaces, which disproportionately affect women, gender-diverse individuals, Indigenous people, racialized women, people with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, according to the release from the Office of Women and Gender Equity.

Seniors Minister Lyne Chantal Boudreau, who is also the minister responsible for women and gender equity, says the legislation is a groundbreaking step towards creating fairer workplaces in the province.

“This transformative legislation aligns with New Brunswick’s broader efforts to combat wage disparities and establish a more inclusive and equitable economy for all,” Boudreau said.