The Employment Minister has announced that gender reporting in 2015 (for the reporting period 1 April 2014 – 31 March 2015) for businesses with more than 100 employees will remain the same as this year’s reporting.

It will not abolish gender equality reporting but additional reporting requirements for businesses which were due to commence on 1 April will be deferred to allow for more consultation.

Reporting to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, due to commence on 1 April 2014 (for the 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2014 reporting period) will proceed as planned. Non-public sector organisations with 100 or more staff are required to report.

The government has also stated that it proposes introducing a minimum standard (which is different from reporting matters) covering employers with more than 500 employees from 1 October 2014.

The new Minimum Standard will require employers to put in place one or more strategies to:

• Support and improve gender equality in the workplace;
• Advance equal remuneration between male and female employees;
• Implement flexible work arrangements for employees with caring responsibilities; or
• Prevent sex-based harassment and discrimination.