Canada Labour Code - equal pay
Yes. The Canada Labour Code requires equal wages for employees doing substantially the same work in the same establishment, and it separately restricts paying a lower rate based on employment status. It applies to federally regulated workplaces alongside the Pay Equity Act, not instead of it.
What the rule requires
Status-based equal pay, effect 20 Oct 2026.
Who it catches
Federally regulated employers - same base as rows 3 and 11.
How to check whether you comply
Read it yourself
We would rather you checked us than took our word for it. This links to the law as published, not to our summary of it.
Questions people ask
Does the Canada Labour Code require equal pay for equal work?
Yes. The Canada Labour Code requires equal wages for employees doing substantially the same work in the same establishment, and it separately restricts paying a lower rate based on employment status. It applies to federally regulated workplaces alongside the Pay Equity Act, not instead of it.
Who does Canada Labour Code - equal pay apply to?
Federally regulated employers - same base as rows 3 and 11.
How do I check whether we comply with Canada Labour Code - equal pay?
Do part-time / temporary staff earn less than full-time peers doing the same work in the same establishment? That gap is the exposure. You can also run our free website check, which tests 25 technical items in about twenty seconds, or book a review if this rule needs a documented answer.
Other rules that catch the same businesses
Find out which of the 33 apply to you
The fine risk check asks a few questions about your business and tells you which rules catch you, with the deadlines. Nothing you tick leaves your browser.
Check my fine riskThis page summarises a legal obligation in plain language so you can work out whether it applies to you. It is not legal advice, and the primary source linked above governs. Last reviewed 2026-10-03.