Employers may have to front up over pay disparities in their workplaces

The House passed legislation last night rendering pay secrecy clauses unenforceable.

The law change provides greater pay transparency - with workers now able to speak freely about their incomes without fear of facing legal action.

Employment lawyer Jordan Boyle says employers may now need to justify why employees are paid differently.

He says there can be a range of factors, performance is one, but sometimes employers pay more to poach someone from a competitor.