Workplace Equity Programs

The HRSDC Workplace Equity Web site provides general information on equal pay and employment equity programs or access tools and resources for the implementation of employment equity as well as information on the legislation and agreements.

Eligibility Criteria

All Canadians or employers who have an interest in the labour force in Canada. 

Summary

The Employment Equity programs are:

Legislated Employment Equity Program (LEEP)
The Legislated Employment Equity Program (LEEP) covers federally regulated employers that fall under the Employment Equity Act. Every year by June 1, over 400 employers submit employment equity reports showing the representation of the designated groups within their workforce. The Employer Reports and Analysis Unit receives these reports and verifies them for compliance with the reporting requirements. The individual reports are published, and they are also the basis for the Minister of Labour's Annual Report on the Employment Equity Act.

Federal Contractors Program (FCP)
The Federal Contractors Program (FCP) was initiated by a Cabinet Decision in 1986 and operates parallel to the Legislated Employment Equity Program (LEEP).

Whereas the Employment Equity Act (1995) covers federally regulated employers of the LEEP program, FCP applies to provincially regulated employers with a national workforce in Canada of 100 or more employees. Specifically, FCP applies to contractors - those provincially regulated employers which receive federal government goods or services contracts of $200 000 or more. As a condition for bidding on large federal contracts, such contractors are required to certify in writing their commitment to employment equity.

The program is administered by workplace equity staff of Labour Standards & Workplace Equity from national headquarters, as well as by a network of regional Workplace Equity Officers across Canada. These same officers enforce the program by conducting periodic on-site compliance reviews at the premises of contractors.

Contractors which refuse to honour their commitment to employment equity and are found in non-compliance with program criteria may lose the right to bid on further federal government contracts.

Separate Employers Unit 
Under the Employment Equity Act, separate employers are considered to be the portions of the public service of Canada set out in Part II of Schedule I to the Public Service Staff Relations Act that employ one hundred or more employees.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
See National Contact.

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National Contact(s):
National Headquarters
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0J2
Toll-free (publications): 1-800-641-4049
Web site: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home.shtml