New regulations on gender equality at work have been announced by the Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector and are to come into effect next month (1 February).
In a statement, the Commission said the Gender Equality Amendment Regulations 2021 were the second stage of regulations related to the Gender Equality Act 2020.
“They help clarify parts of the Act and make it easier for certain defined entities to meet their obligations,” the Commission said.
It said the new regulations prescribed universities as Designated Bodies; provided an alternate data capture period for universities’ workplace gender audits; and incorporated a set of gender pay equity principles into the Act.
The Commission said the Designated Bodies amendment expanded the scope of the Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner’s dispute resolution function to include universities.
It said defined entities would be required to consider the new gender pay equity principles when developing their Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP).
“The Commission is working to develop detailed guidance materials to accompany the Regulations,” it said.
“These materials will reflect stakeholder feedback and include clear guidance on how to fulfil and apply each of the gender pay equity principles in the Regulations, and how to address the gender pay equity principles in a GEAP,” the Commission said.
The five-page Amendment Regulations can be accessed at this PS News link.
