Nova Scotia Labour & Employment Standards 2020

• $11.55 per hour (effective 01 April 2019)
• $11.05 per hour for employees with no experience (employed less than 3 months)

Note: Rates are to be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index. For workers employed in logging and forestry operations, the minimum wage is set separately.

• 3 hours at minimum wage

• Over 48 hours per week

Note: In Nova Scotia, while most receive 150% of their regular hourly wage, some groups of workers receive overtime at 150% of the minimum wage.

• After 1 year of employment: 2 weeks
• After 8 years of employment: 3 weeks

• 4% of vacationable earnings
• After 8 years of employment: 6%

• New Year’s Day (January 1)
• Nova Scotia Heritage Day (February, 3rd Monday)
• Good Friday (April 18)
• Canada Day (July 1)
• Labour Day (September 1)
• Remembrance Day (November 11) (see note)
• Christmas Day (December 25)

Note: This is not a statutory holiday under the Labour Standards Code but rather under the Remembrance Day Act. Most industries are required to be closed.

Under the Remembrance Day Act, if an eligible employee is required to work on Remembrance Day and was entitled to receive wages for 15 of the 30 days prior to Remembrance Day, he or she will be given a holiday with pay on another agreed upon day. Under the Retail Business Designated Day Closing Act, some retail businesses are prohibited from opening (Affects more days than just statutory holidays – Consult the legislation for more details.).

• Time + 1/2 plus regular pay; if continuous Time + 1/2 plus regular pay OR regular pay plus alternate day

Note: If pay is variable, a regular day’s pay can be determined by averaging hours or wages over the 30 calendar days preceding the holiday.

• Regular day’s pay

Note: If pay is variable, a regular day’s pay can be determined by averaging hours or wages over the 30 calendar days preceding the holiday.

• Less than 3 months of employment: Nil
• 3 months -2 years of employment: 1 week
• 2 – 5 years of employment: 2 weeks
• 5 – 10 years of employment: 4 weeks
• 10 years of employment and over: 8 weeks

Note: When terminating in groups of 10 or more, group termination rules may apply.

• 16 weeks

Note 1: Maximum combined pregnancy/parental leave is 77 weeks. The longer period of parental leave applies if maternity/pregnancy leave is not taken.

Note 2:  Employees do not need a certain length of service to qualify for pregnancy and parental leaves. 

Note 3: Most jurisdictions require leaves to be taken within a specified period. Check with the applicable employment/labour standards office.

• 61 weeks

Note 1: Maximum combined pregnancy/parental leave is 77 weeks.

Note 2: Most jurisdictions require leaves to be taken within a specified period. Check with the applicable employment/labour standards office.

• 5 days

Note:  Five days on death of a spouse, child or ward, or parent/guardian, grandparent, grandchild, sister, brother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law or brother-in-law.

• 28 weeks

Note: If employed at least three months.

• Yes

• 3 days

• 3 hours

• 1 day

• Yes

Note: Leave for Reservists – Employees who are members of the Canadian Forces Reserves and deployed for active service are entitled to a job-protected unpaid leave. Eligibility requirements and period of leave varies-consult applicable employment/labour standards information.

• Yes, unpaid leave for attendance at a proceeding

• 37 weeks within a 52 week period

Note: If employed at least three months.

• 104 weeks for death, 52 weeks for disappearance

Note: If employed at least three months.