To close the gender pay gap in the country, Australia has recently introduced the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023.
The bill aims to improve the transparency around pay, said reports. It also raises the bar from the “minimum standard” gender equality benchmark provided by the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012. The latest amendment mandates the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) to publish employer-level gender pay gap reports.
The reports also pointed out that the WGEA advises, assists, and reviews employer performance and compliance with gender equality regimes in the workplace. It has to publish the “aggregate information” for each employer to track their progress in achieving gender equality in employee compensation. After receiving the report, employers must provide a copy to all the members of its governing body.
The new regulations aim to do away with the minimum standard and instead seek the Minister for Women to set higher gender equality standards about specified gender equality indicators.
