pay Equity

What Is Pay Equity?
The Pay Equity Act was legislated in Ontario in 1987, and was designed to encourage equal pay for work of equal or comparable value. The Pay Equity Act was amended in 1990 and made law in Ontario to narrow the wage gap that exists between women and men’s wages. (www.gov.on.ca, 2002). Furthermore, it is a means of eliminating racial discrimination in the wage setting system. Women, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities and visible minorities are still segregated into a smaller number of jobs ~ such as clerical, service workers, nurses, and teachers. These jobs have been historically undervalued and continue to be underpaid because of the gender and race of people who hold them. Studies show that an occupation that is primarily dominated by women or people of colour pays less. Part of the wage gap results from the differences in education, experience, or time in the workforce. But, a significant proportion cannot be explained by any of those facto...