PV staff
Nova Scotia currently has some of the weakest labour standards in Canada. Workers there get fewer statutory holidays than other provinces, no paid sick days (unless provided under a collective agreement), minimal provincial enforcement of labour standards, and a 48-hour standard work week.
On top of that, wage and tip theft are widespread, as is retaliation against workers who speak up. Marginalized groups – including newcomers, youth, gender non-conforming and people with disabilities – face systemic discrimination and barriers to fair treatment. Many violations remain unaddressed under Nova Scotia’s complaint-based enforcement model, as workers rarely file complaints until after losing their jobs.
These are some of the findings of the Halifax Workers’ Action Centre (WAC), which spoke with hundreds of workers across the province over the course of 2025, especially those working in retail, hospitality and non-union construction. The centre’s findings and recommendations for change were published in WAC’s report “From Broken to Better: Fighting for Workplace Justice.”
In the spring of 2026, WAC combined with the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour and Justice for Workers Nova Scotia to launch a “From Broken to Better” campaign with the aim of modernizing and strengthening the province’s Labour Standards Code.
Nova Scotia’s Labour Standards Code, which determines the bare minimum rights for workers, hasn’t been overhauled since 1989 and is outdated for today’s workplaces. In particular, the campaign notes that part-time, gig, temporary and care workers left far behind.
It also suffers from weak protections and spotty enforcement. For example, there is no “just cause” protection for terminations, and the ability to organize is hampered; this leaves many workers afraid of, and unprotected from employer retaliation. Even for those workers who know their rights and file complaints, provincial enforcement is slow and confusing, stacked in favour of employers.
Through the “From Broken to Better” campaign, workers are calling on the government to pass legislation that will modernize the Labour Standards Code and improve working conditions and labour rights for all workers.
The campaign is structured around six key demands:
- An end to no-cause termination, banning employers from terminating workers without cause after one year of full-time employment.
- 10 paid sick days per year for every full-time worker.
- Closing the tip theft loophole, making it illegal for bosses to steal workers’ tips.
- Shortening the work week from 48 hours to 40, at which point overtime must be paid.
- Requiring two weeks advanced notice of scheduling so workers can plan for the future.
- Creating more paid, statutory holidays by making Remembrance Day and retail closing days statutory holidays.
WAC points out that workers already have these rights and legal protections in provinces across Canada.
Part of the campaign includes information for dealing with skeptics and naysayers.
To those who argue that the issue doesn’t affect them because they already have a decent contract or are in a union, campaign materials provide four talking points:
- Lower wages and job insecurity: Weak standards drive down wages across all sectors, even for unionized and “good” jobs.
- Worker flight: Young people and skilled workers leave Nova Scotia, or do not consider living there, because other provinces have fairer laws and better pay; furthermore, the province no longer have inexpensive living costs to make it more attractive.
- Loss of community: Worker flight is leading to community breakdown and economic disintegration, especially in rural Nova Scotia where small business owners are closing shop at record rates.
- Gender and racial inequality: The weakest protections hit women, racialized workers, immigrants and care workers the hardest. There are too many exempted jobs and occupations.
Against the argument that workers’ rights are bad for business, and that improvements to the Labour Standards Code will hurt local economies, the campaign has two answers:
- Public cost: Unstable work and low wages drive demand on social programs, housing and food banks; when we avoid asking employers to do their fair share, we all end up paying the price.
- Economic stagnation: When workers can’t make ends meet, they don’t spend money in their communities and local economies suffer.
The campaign website offers more information and resources including scripts for contacting MLAs, a campaign guide, discussion guides and information sheets, and a petition.
[Photo: HalifaxWAC.ca]
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