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Overview of Employment and Labour Laws in Nova Scotia
Which law applies
The Labour Standards Code and its regulations set the minimum working conditions. The province publishes a guide to the Code.
Who is covered or excluded
- Covered: most provincially regulated employees, full-time or part-time.
- Excluded: notably self-employed workers.
- Special rules: some industries, such as construction, forestry and agriculture.
Provincial or federal?
Banks, interprovincial transportation, telecommunications and broadcasting fall under the Canada Labour Code. See our page on federal labour standards.
Who enforces the law
The Labour Standards Division of the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration handles complaints and can order the payment of amounts owed.
Minimum standards, contracts and collective agreements
An employment contract or a collective agreement can offer more than the Code, never less.
Minimum Wage in Nova Scotia
General rate and effective date
The general minimum wage is $17 an hour since October 1, 2026 (Government of Nova Scotia).
| Period | General rate |
|---|---|
| Since October 1, 2026 | $17 an hour |
| April 1 to September 30, 2026 | $16.75 an hour |
| October 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 | $16.50 an hour |
Special rates
No lower rate for tipped employees. Construction and property maintenance, as well as forestry, have their own minimum wage orders.
Next increase and how it is set
From April 1, 2027, the rate will be adjusted every year by the Consumer Price Index plus 1%.
What counts toward minimum wage
- Tips can never be used to reach the minimum.
- An employee called in outside their schedule is paid at least 3 hours at minimum wage.
- A deduction must be authorized by law, for example to repay a documented advance.
Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees in Nova Scotia
Is there a separate rate?
No. A tipped employee earns at least $17 an hour, on top of their tips.
Who owns tips
Until March 31, 2027, the Code does not protect tips. From April 1, 2027, Bill 256 guarantees that they go to the people who earn them.
Tip sharing
Until the new rules take effect, adopt a written tip-sharing policy and give it to employees when they are hired.
Prohibited deductions
No deduction from wages without a legal basis, for example for an unpaid bill or breakage.
Overtime Rules in Nova Scotia
Daily and weekly threshold
Overtime starts after 48 hours a week, with no daily threshold. The threshold will drop to 44 hours on April 1, 2027.
Rate and sample calculation
1.5 times the regular wage under the general order.
| 46 hours at $20 an hour | Until March 31, 2027 (48 h) | From April 1, 2027 (44 h) |
|---|---|---|
| Regular hours | 46 h × $20 = $920 | 44 h × $20 = $880 |
| Overtime hours | None | 2 h × $30 = $60 |
| Total | $920 | $940 |
Averaging of hours
Possible over a fixed cycle of several weeks, on the Labour Standards Division’s conditions.
Time off instead of overtime pay (banked time)
By agreement: 1.5 hours of paid time off per overtime hour.
Exemptions
Some industries have separate rules. Construction and agriculture are not covered by the new 2027 rules.
Right to refuse
No general right to refuse and no daily cap. From April 1, 2027, voluntary hours the employer allows will also earn overtime.
Employer Record-Keeping Requirements in Nova Scotia
Required records
Each employee’s wage rate, hours worked, leaves, vacation periods and vacation pay.
Retention period
At least 36 months after the work was performed, at the employer’s main place of business.
Electronic records
Accepted if they are complete and can be produced quickly.
Pay statement
A statement on every payday: pay period, hours, rate, gross wages, deductions and net pay.
Employee access
The pay statement is often where a complaint starts. Bill 256 also makes directors liable for unpaid wages.
Termination of Employment in Nova Scotia: Notice and Pay
Notice by length of service
| Period of employment | Minimum notice |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 months | None |
| 3 months to less than 2 years | 1 week |
| 2 years to less than 5 years | 2 weeks |
| 5 years to less than 10 years | 4 weeks |
| 10 years or more | 8 weeks, and just cause required |
Source: novascotia.ca
Pay in lieu of notice
The wages the employee would have earned during the missing notice period.
Severance pay
None under the Code. One particularity: after 10 years of service, an employee cannot be dismissed or suspended without just cause, with some exceptions. The province can order reinstatement or compensation greater than 8 weeks.
Exceptions
Less than 3 months of service, dismissal for just cause, and a layoff or suspension of 6 days or less.
Group termination
When 10 or more employees are terminated within 4 weeks: notice to the employees and to the minister of 8 weeks (10 to 99), 12 weeks (100 to 299) or 16 weeks (300 or more).
Temporary layoff
No notice for 6 days or less. Beyond that, the notice is the same as for a termination of employment.
Meal Break Rules in Nova Scotia
Mandatory meal break
A half hour without interruption after 5 consecutive hours of work.
Paid or unpaid
Generally unpaid, unless the employee must remain available.
Coffee breaks
Not mandatory.
Special cases
- Weekly rest: 24 consecutive hours, on Sunday where possible.
- Call-in: at least 3 hours paid at minimum wage.
- Waiting time: paid when the employee waits for work on the premises at the employer’s request.
Leaves and Statutory Holidays in Nova Scotia
Paid holidays and holiday pay
6 paid holidays, including Heritage Day in February. Remembrance Day falls under a separate act. The employee must have been paid for 15 of the previous 30 days. Holiday pay equals a regular day’s wages, plus 1.5 times the rate for the hours worked that day. Dates: Statutory holidays in Canada.
Annual vacation and vacation pay
| Length of employment | Vacation | Vacation pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 7 years | 2 weeks | 4% |
| 8 years or more | 3 weeks | 6% |
Sick leave
Since January 1, 2025: 5 unpaid sick days a year, plus 3 days for family obligations and medical appointments, and 27 weeks for a serious illness (novascotia.ca). A medical note can be required only after 5 working days of absence or on the third absence in 12 months.
Family leave
- Pregnancy: 16 weeks
- Parental: 61 weeks after a pregnancy leave, 77 otherwise
- Bereavement: 5 consecutive days
- Compassionate care: 28 weeks
- Critical illness: 37 weeks for a child, 16 for an adult
Other job-protected leaves
Domestic violence (10 days and 16 weeks, 5 of the days paid), crime-related death or disappearance of a child, pregnancy loss, emergency, reservist and citizenship ceremony leave (novascotia.ca).
Employing Minors in Nova Scotia
Minimum working age
No general minimum age, but there are rules for children under 14 and under 16. They no longer apply from age 16.
Parental consent
No written consent or permit is required. A parent can, however, be fined if their child’s employment breaks the Code.
Hours allowed during the school year
Under 14: at most 8 hours a day, 3 hours on a school day, and 8 hours in total for school and work combined.
Employer obligations
Check the employee’s age and keep proof of their date of birth on file.
Restrictions for Young Workers in Nova Scotia
Prohibited jobs and tasks
Under 16: mines, manufacturing, construction, forestry, garages, hotels, bowling alleys or theatres. At 14 and 15, restaurant work is allowed without cooking equipment, with training and supervision.
Night work
Prohibited between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. under 14.
Maximum daily and weekly hours
Under 14: 8 hours a day, or 3 hours on a school day. No weekly cap specific to young workers.
Health and safety
The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires employers to train and supervise every worker.
Penalties
Complaints about the employment of children are handled as a priority by the Labour Standards Division.
