Pay Equity in British Columbia: Progress, Challenges, and the Path Forward

British Columbia has made meaningful strides toward closing the gender pay gap under the leadership of the BC NDP. However, as of 2023 women in B.C. still earn, on average, 16% less than men in hourly wages—a gap that widens to 26% when considering total annual income. These figures highlight the continued urgency to address pay equity across sectors, particularly for marginalized groups.

Progress on pay equity

The BC NDP government has implemented several key reforms to improve pay equity. Notably, the introduction of pay transparency rules will, over time, help bring wage disparities into the spotlight. These rules represent the first steps toward greater accountability for employers and ensuring that workers are compensated fairly, regardless of gender.

The BC NDP government has also consistently supported collective bargaining rights, which have proven to narrow the wage gap for unionized workers. In B.C., unionized workers experience a much smaller gender wage gap of 6%, compared to 18% for non-unionized workers.

Remaining challenges

While these policies mark significant progress, systemic barriers to full pay equity persist.

B.C.’s pay transparency regulations do not yet go as far as the federal Pay Equity Act, which mandates that federally regulated employers develop pay equity plans. The lack of provincial pay equity legislation leaves a gap in ensuring fair wages across all sectors. Furthermore, marginalized groups, including women of colour and Indigenous women, still face compounded barriers to achieving pay equity.

To close these gaps, B.C. needs stronger, enforceable legislation that actively identifies and eliminates pay inequities, holding employers accountable with penalties for non-compliance.

Nobody can afford John Rustad’s B.C.

The B.C. Conservatives have historically opposed robust pay equity measures. Their reluctance to adopt forward-thinking labour policies could jeopardize the progress that has been made under the B.C. NDP.

In contrast, the NDP’s continued advocacy for workers' rights has been instrumental in improving wages and closing gender pay gaps, ensuring a fairer labour market for all.

Take action

Voting for parties that support stronger pay equity legislation in the upcoming election is crucial to creating a more equal and fairer workforce in British Columbia. The Conservatives' policies risk reversing the hard-won gains that workers, particularly women and marginalized groups, have achieved.