Are you covered by federal workplace law?

Workers in Nova Scotia typically fall under one of two systems: provincial or federal workplace law. The employer’s main business usually decides which system applies. Federal law applies because of what the employer does, not simply because the workplace is in Canada or crosses a municipal boundary.

You are likely federally regulated if you work in air transportation; banking; telecommunications; radio or television; Canada Post or another federal Crown corporation; ports, marine shipping or ferries; railways crossing provincial or international borders; interprovincial or international trucking or bus service; pipelines crossing a border; grain elevators and certain grain businesses; uranium or atomic energy; some First Nations band councils and Indigenous self-governments; or a business that is vital to one of those federal operations.

The federal public service and Parliament are also covered by federal workplace laws, although special public-sector laws apply to bargaining, grievances and staffing.

Most other workers in Nova Scotia are covered by provincial law. This includes most stores, restaurants, farms, fish plants, construction sites, hospitals, schools, municipalities and businesses that operate only within Nova Scotia. If that describes your workplace, use the Nova Scotia workplace laws and worker rights page.

Please read first: This is a public reference directory, not legal advice. Laws, regulations, policies, forms, deadlines and contact information can change. Always check the official source and get advice about your own case from your union, the responsible agency, a worker advocate or a lawyer.

Need help with a federal workplace problem?

Federal Labour Program

The Labour Program at Employment and Social Development Canada is the main federal office for labour standards and occupational health and safety information.

Canada Industrial Relations Board

The Canada Industrial Relations Board deals with union certification, unfair labour practices, bargaining disputes, certain reprisal complaints, health and safety appeals, employment standards appeals and administrative monetary penalty appeals.

Canadian Human Rights Commission

The Commission handles discrimination and harassment complaints in federal jurisdiction. It also houses the federal Pay Equity Commissioner and Accessibility Commissioner.

The Canada Labour Code has four parts

The Canada Labour Code is the main workplace law for federally regulated employers and workers.

PartWhat it coversMain body
Part IUnions, certification, collective bargaining, unfair labour practices, strikes and lockoutsCanada Industrial Relations Board
Part IIOccupational health and safety, hazard prevention, committees, refusals and reprisalsLabour Program, with appeals and some complaints going to the Board
Part IIIMinimum wage, pay, hours, breaks, holidays, vacation, leaves, termination, severance and unjust dismissalLabour Program, with some appeals going to the Board
Part IVAdministrative monetary penalties for certain violationsLabour Program, with appeals going to the Board

Part III: pay, hours, leaves and ending employment

Part III sets the minimum employment standards for federally regulated workplaces. A collective agreement or employment contract may provide better rights, but it cannot normally take away a minimum right under the Code.

Main regulations

Sector-specific hours-of-work regulations

These regulations change or add hours-of-work rules for particular federal industries. Employers and workers should read the rules for their sector as well as the general Canada Labour Standards Regulations.

Complaints

The Labour Program accepts four main kinds of Part III complaints: monetary complaints, non-monetary complaints, unjust dismissal complaints and genetic-testing complaints. Reprisal complaints generally go to the Canada Industrial Relations Board instead. Eligibility and deadlines differ, so use the current federal complaint instructions and act quickly.

Part II: health and safety

Part II of the Code covers federal workplace health and safety. Workers have the right to know about hazards, participate in prevention work and refuse dangerous work through the legal process. The exact regulation can vary by industry.

General and sector regulations

For a serious injury, a death or a refusal to work, call the Labour Program at 1-800-641-4049. The line is answered 24 hours a day.

Part I: unions and collective bargaining

Part I covers union certification, bargaining in good faith, unfair labour practices, strikes and lockouts in federally regulated workplaces. The Canada Industrial Relations Board administers these matters.

Part IV: Administrative Monetary Penalties

Part IV allows the Labour Program to issue administrative monetary penalties for certain Part II and Part III violations. Employer names and details of some violations may be published.

Human rights, employment equity, pay equity and accessibility

Canadian Human Rights Act

The Canadian Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination and harassment by the federal government and federally regulated employers on protected grounds.

Employment Equity Act

The Employment Equity Act creates reporting and workforce obligations for covered federally regulated employers and federal public-sector organizations.

Pay Equity Act

The federal Pay Equity Act requires covered employers with 10 or more employees to take proactive steps toward equal pay for work of equal value.

Accessible Canada Act

The Accessible Canada Act requires covered federal organizations to identify, remove and prevent barriers. Different regulators oversee different parts of the federal system.

Workplace injuries and workers’ compensation

Federal labour jurisdiction does not mean every work-injury claim is handled by a separate federal compensation board. Federally regulated private-sector employers in Nova Scotia, such as banks, airlines and telecommunications companies, are generally covered by Nova Scotia’s Workers’ Compensation Act.

Federal government employees are covered by the Government Employees Compensation Act. The federal service delivers benefits in partnership with provincial workers’ compensation boards, so a claim in Nova Scotia is handled by WCB Nova Scotia.

Federal public service laws

Federal public servants have special laws for collective bargaining, grievances, staffing and the board that hears many disputes. The Canada Labour Code still applies to federal public-service health and safety under Part II.

Unpaid wages after bankruptcy and Employment Insurance

These federal laws may help workers determine whether their ordinary workplace rights are federal or provincial.

Privacy and smoke-free workplaces

Employee privacy

PIPEDA includes rules for employee personal information held by federal works, undertakings and businesses. The Privacy Act applies to personal information held by federal government institutions.

Smoking in federal workplaces

Finding the official legal text

Use the official consolidated text before making an important decision. Regulations can change, and special exemptions or sector rules may apply.

See something that may be out of date or a useful link that should be added? Email labourviewsns@gmail.com.

We do our best to keep the information up to date, and this page was last reviewed on August 25, 2026. This page provides general information, not legal advice. Laws, regulations, deadlines and links can change, and the information may not apply to your situation. Check the official source and contact your union, the responsible agency, a worker advocate or a lawyer before making an important decision.