Breadcrumb

Employment Equity Act [1995, c. 44].

Country(ies)

Canada

Subjects (Classification)

Equality of opportunity and treatment; Indigenous and tribal peoples

Adopted on (Date of text)

1995-12-15

Scope of text

National

Type of legislation (Type of text)

Law, Act

Abstract/Citation

Aims to provide equality in the workplace so that no person shall be denied employment opportunities and to correct conditions of disadvantage in employment experienced by women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities (s. 2). Applies to private sector employers and specified portions of the public service (s. 4). Employers shall identify and eliminate employment barriers against persons in designated groups and institute policies which ensure that designated groups achieve a degree of representation in the workforce. The measures do not require the employer to hire unqualified persons or create new positions (s. 6). Section 7 provides that if an employer is engaged primarily in serving aboriginal peoples, he or she may give preference to hiring aboriginal peoples, unless this would constitute a discriminatory practice under the Canadian Human Rights Act. Employers shall prepare an employment equity plan setting forth measures which will be taken to correct any deficiencies in the representation of designated groups (s. 10). S. 18 requires every private sector employer to file an annual report detailing the number of persons from designated groups represented in the workforce, as well as their salaries and occupational groups. S. 21 requires a similar report from the President of the Treasury Board concerning employment of designated groups in the public service. Part II delegates power of enforcing the Act to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and provides regulations thereto. Monetary penalties for violation of the Act are set forth in Part III.