28/02/2024
In March 2023 the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) 2023 Act (‘WGEA’) was passed. These amendments are intended to reduce gender inequality in the workplace and increase the mandatory reporting obligations for reporting organisations (being those with more than 100 employees) from the 2024 reporting period.
Key Changes:
The changes require employers with more than 100 staff to:
• share their WGEA Executive Summary and Industry Benchmark Report with their Board (or governing body);
• from 1 April 2024, report to WGEA on additional data sets, specifically the age of employees, primary workplace location as well as the remuneration of the CEO, head of business and casual manager; and
• from 1 April 2024, report (as part of the annual WGEA reporting process) instances of sexual harassment and harassment on the grounds of sex or discrimination, as well as information about supports available to staff.
From 1 April 2024, larger employers with more than 500 employees must have a policy or strategy in place that target and address each of the six gender equality indicators.
From 2024, WGEA begins publishing the gender pay gap information of employers with more than 100 employees. The first release can be found here: Employer gender pay gaps published first time | WGEA .
While this release of the gender pay gap information only covers private sector organisations, later this year information will be released on Commonwealth sector organisations.
It is intended that these additional reporting obligations and reporting by WGEA will increase transparency, encourage action and discussion on the managing bodies of Boards to work towards reducing the gender pay gap.
Recommendations for Employers
Employers which fall under this Act, should ensure they are in a position to provide the new mandatory reporting information from April 2024.