Equal Pay Program - EPP

Act: Canada Labour Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. L-2;Canadian Human Rights Act, Section II
Regulation: Not applicable.

To Whom Does This Apply?

Employers in industries that are regulated by the federal government.

Eligible Area

All Canadian provinces and territories.

Eligible Activities

Any federally regulated workplace in Canada.

Summary

The objective of the Labour Program is to eliminate sex-based wage discrimination in the federal jurisdiction.

Employers are responsible for implementing equal pay. The Labour Program believes that employers should be given an opportunity to understand the legislation. They should also be given sufficient time to implement pay equity plans prior to being inspected for compliance.

The Labour Program has the following three-step process in order to determine employer compliance and to respond to non-compliance.

Step 1: Education

The first step is an educational visit. It is intended to inform federal jurisdiction employers of their obligations with respect to the equal pay legislation and to advise them of the means to fulfill these obligations.

Step 2: Monitoring

The second step is a monitoring visit to these same employers to answer technical questions, to verify the employer's progress on implementation, and to obtain general information. Monitoring visits will be conducted throughout the implementation process.

Step 3: Audit or Inspection

The final step is an on-site inspection. On-site audits are arranged with employers who report that they have fully implemented an equal pay program. When employers have not taken any action to review their compensation system for gender discrimination, the Labour Program can schedule an inspection. If the inspector identifies reasonable grounds for believing that gender-based wage discrimination exists, then the case may be referred to the Canadian Human Rights Commission for investigation and resolution.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Quebec Contact(s):
Workplace Equity Regional Operations
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
West Tower, 4th floor
200 René Lévesque West
Montréal, Quebec  H2Z 1X4
Telephone: 514-982-2553
Fax: 514-283-5748
Toll-free (information): 1-877-592-7653
E-mail: http://www19.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/workplace_equity/contact_form.shtml
Web site: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home.shtml

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National Contact(s):
National Headquarters
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
10th Floor
165 Hôtel de Ville Street
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0J2
Telephone: 819-953-7536
Fax: 819-953-8768
E-mail: http://www19.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/workplace_equity/contact_form.shtml
Web site: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home.shtml