Gender equality targets mandate

The Government has passed a new gender equality targets scheme in the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) Act.

Organisations with 500 or more employees will need to set targets and actionable goals designed to improve gender equality and move towards equal remuneration over a three-year period. These changes build on the existing requirements for relevant employers to implement policies or strategies to support Gender Equality Indicators and report on these measures under the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Cth) (WGEA).

These gender equality targets scheme is the first of its kind globally and contrasts with changes in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in other global locations. The changes result from one of the recommendations of a review of the WGEA in 2022 where progress on gender equality in Australia was found to be slow.

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