CURB Welcomes Pay Transparency Legislation
Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda [CURB] said they “welcome the Bermuda Government’s proposed pay transparency legislation as an important step toward addressing longstanding inequities in Bermuda’s labour market and advancing racial and economic justice.”
A spokesperson said, “The proposed initiative, recently outlined publicly, aims to introduce greater transparency and accountability in wage-setting practices by encouraging employers to adopt objective, non-discriminatory criteria and increasing access to pay information. This approach aligns with CURB’s Racial Justice Platform, which calls for structural reforms to support equal pay for equal work, equity in employment practices, and greater accountability for disparities that disproportionately affect Black Bermudians.
“The most recent available data from the 2016 Population and Housing Census, with updated figures anticipated in the near future, highlight the scale and persistence of pay inequities across race and Bermudian status.
“Median annual income of persons by Bermudian status indicates:
- Persons with Bermudian status: $50,991
- Non-Bermudians: $70,601
“Among full-time workers, median annual income by Bermudian status indicates:
- Persons with Bermudian status: $63,000
- Non-Bermudians: $80,615
“Median annual income of persons by race and sex indicates:
- White men: $96,824
- White women: $82,970
- Black women: $61,792
- Black men: $56,845
“Median annual income of persons by occupation group further indicates disparities at senior levels:
- Senior officials and managers: persons of the White racial group had a median annual income of $119,678, compared with $83,199 for persons of the Black racial group
- Technicians and associate professionals: persons of the White racial group had a median annual income of $108,000, compared with $74,536 for persons of the Black racial group
“These figures point to persistent patterns of inequity across multiple sectors and levels of the workforce.
“More recent data from the November 2024 Labour Force Survey indicates that disparities persist across multiple dimensions. Median annual income of persons by race indicates that persons of the White racial group [$64,541] have higher median annual incomes than persons of the Black racial group [$48,247], while median annual income by sex indicates that men [$60,211] have higher median annual incomes than women [$43,442]. These patterns, alongside higher levels of underemployment among Black workers and women, point to ongoing structural inequities in Bermuda’s labour market.
“When pay structures are not transparent, disparities can remain hidden and difficult to address. Pay transparency legislation introduces a more proactive, systemic approach by aiming to encourage:
- Publication of salary ranges
- Clear, consistent criteria for compensation
- Greater access to pay information for employees
- Reduced reliance on prior salary history
“These measures support CURB’s longstanding call for structural accountability, shifting the burden away from individuals and toward institutions, while also contributing to a fair and sustainable business environment.
“CURB’s Racial Justice Platform emphasizes:
- Economic justice and equitable wages
- Transparency in systems that shape opportunity
- Dismantling structural barriers rooted in race and status
“The Government’s proposed legislation has the potential to advance these priorities by embedding transparency into labour market practices and creating mechanisms to better identify and address inequities tied to race, Bermudian status, and access to opportunity.
“While CURB supports this legislative direction, meaningful change will require sustained commitment and comprehensive action. A robust pay transparency and equity framework could be strengthened through:
- Annual pay-gap reporting by gender, race, and Bermudian status
- Disclosure of salary ranges in job advertisements, particularly among large employers
- Regular equal-pay audits across public and private sectors
- Monitoring of pay progression by occupation and seniority
- Measurable targets and accountability mechanisms to close identified gaps
“Pay transparency is not about assigning blame; it is about ensuring that workers, employers, and policymakers can clearly identify inequities and take informed action to address them.
“Bermuda has the data. The disparities are evident. The introduction of pay transparency legislation represents a meaningful step toward greater accountability and fairness.
“CURB encourages broad public engagement in the consultation process and calls on all stakeholders to support policies that advance equity, strengthen opportunity, and move Bermuda toward a more just and inclusive society.”
“These figures point to persistent patterns of inequity across multiple sectors and levels of the workforce.“
No they don’t. That’s a ridiculous comment.
Should be fun to watch. A bunch of incompetents telling IB how to set their pay scales. Let’s start with Government employees, locals mostly, and the largest number under one employer.