An antiracism charity group has backed proposed legislation designed to ensure pay equity and transparency.

Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda recognised wage gaps between different races, genders and nationalities, which it said reached tens of thousands of dollars on average.

The group added that efforts to bring pay disparities into the open would contribute to its goal of racial justice.

Curb called for deeper efforts, such as annual pay gap reporting, disclosure of salary ranges in job applications and regular audits across public and private sectors.

The group said: “Pay transparency is not about assigning blame — it’s about ensuring that workers, employers and policymakers can clearly identify inequities and take informed action to address them.”

The organisation was speaking after Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, announced plans to introduce laws that mandate transparency over payments across the business sector.

Mr Hayward said the policy was designed to help prevent unfair pay practices and would offer clarity to make sure pay decisions were based from “objective and non-discriminatory criteria”.

Curb said that the November 2024 Labour Force Survey noted disparities in average annual wages based on race and sex.

The survey noted that White people on the island had an average income of $64,541 a year, while Black people on the island averaged about $48,247 annually.

Likewise, men on average received $60,211 a year, according to the survey, while women received $43,442.

The charity noted earlier statistics from the 2016 Population and Housing Census, which went into further depth on the island’s wage gaps.

The census noted the highest yearly earners on average when accounting for race and sex were White men at $96,824, followed by White women at $82,970, Black women at $61,792 and Black men at $56,845.

Among technicians and associate professionals, White workers collected about $108,000 a year on average, while their Black counterparts made about $74,536 on average.

The gap was wider among senior officials and managers, with White people collecting a median annual income of $119,678, while Black people received $83,199 a year on average.

Furthermore, the census noted that non-Bermudians on average made about $70,601 a year, compared with the $50,991 those with Bermudian status made a year on average.

Among full-time workers, the median annual income for non-Bermudians was $80,615, while that of those with Bermudian status was $63,000.

Curb said these patterns, when combined with higher level of underemployment among Black workers and women, indicated “ongoing structural inequities in Bermuda’s labour market”.

The group added: “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; and reduced reliance on prior salary history.

“These measures support Curb’s longstanding call for structural accountability, shifting the burden away from individuals and towards institutions while also contributing to a fair and sustainable business environment.”

Curb added: “Bermuda has the data. The disparities are evident. The introduction of pay transparency legislation represents a meaningful step towards 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 towards a more just and inclusive society.”