Equal pay for work of equal value by 2030: representatives from USA and Canada discuss the EPIC coalition

WASHINGTON (ILO News) - On July 24, 2024, at the G20 Summit in Brazil, U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Rakesh Patry, Canada’s Director General of International and Intergovernmental Labour Affairs, participated in an Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) side event titled “Together let’s close the gender pay gap NOW!” with other EPIC members, worker and employer organizations to address gender equality and reduce the gender pay gap worldwide. Mr. Patry is the Chair of EPIC.

The EPIC side event discussed strategies to accelerate action to reduce the gender pay gap in labour force participation; re-focus global attention on the existence, nature, causes and measurement of the gender pay gap; showcase best practices and the impact of achieving equal pay for the work of equal value on reducing poverty and inequality; and strengthen EPIC membership and commitments to pay equity. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to closing the gap by 2030 as set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.5.

Secretary Su emphasized the need for robust policies and collaborative efforts to dismantle barriers. Mr. Patry detailed Canada's progress through the Pay Equity Act, the creation of a Pay Equity Commissioner, and by launching Equi’Vision, an innovative pay transparency website. Under Mr. Patry’s leadership, EPIC members work together to make equal pay for work of equal value a reality through collaboration, developing best practices and innovative solutions to guide workers, enterprises, and governments worldwide.

To learn more about EPIC and the movement towards equal pay, visit EPIC’s website.