Guide to the Labour Standards Code
A practical provincial guide to pay, hours, holidays, leaves and ending employment.
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Reference desk · Official Nova Scotia sources
Worker reference library
Nova Scotia worker laws
Direct links to the laws, regulations and government guides workers and union representatives use most often.
Please read first
This page is a directory of official sources. It gives general information, not legal advice, and it does not interpret your rights. Laws change. For advice about your own situation, contact your union, the responsible agency or a lawyer.
Links checked August 4, 2026. The Legislature’s consolidated statute list was current to March 2, 2026 when this page was prepared.
Official links
Start here
Plain-language help before you open the full law.
WCB Nova Scotia: For Workers
What to do after a workplace injury or illness, including claims, benefits and appeals.
Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
Plain-language information about discrimination, protected characteristics and complaints.
Guide to the Nova Scotia Labour Board
How applications, complaints and appeals are handled by the Labour Board.
Official links
Pay, hours, leaves and termination
The basic employment rules for most provincially regulated workplaces.
Labour Standards Code
Nova Scotia’s minimum standards for wages, hours, holidays, leaves and ending employment.
Minimum Wage Order (General)
The regulation that sets Nova Scotia’s general minimum wage.
Remembrance Day Act
Rules for the observance of Remembrance Day, including who may work.
Retail Business Uniform Closing Day Act
Rules for retail closing days in Nova Scotia.
Official links
Unions and collective bargaining
The main rules for organizing, bargaining and labour disputes.
Trade Union Act
The central Nova Scotia law on union organizing, certification, bargaining and labour disputes.
Labour Board Act
Establishes the unified Nova Scotia Labour Board that hears labour and employment matters.
Construction Projects Labour Relations Act
Rules intended to stabilize labour relations on certain construction projects.
Official links
Health and safety at work
The Act and core regulations used to prevent workplace injury and illness.
Occupational Health and Safety Act
Sets workplace health and safety duties and the internal responsibility system.
Workplace Health and Safety Regulations
Core requirements for health and safety in Nova Scotia workplaces.
Occupational Safety General Regulations
General safety requirements for equipment, work practices and hazards.
Violence in the Workplace Regulations
Requirements for assessing and preventing violence at work.
Official links
Injured workers and compensation
The compensation system, claims rules and independent worker help.
Workers’ Compensation Act
The law governing compensation, rehabilitation, return to work and benefits after workplace injury or illness.
Workers’ Compensation General Regulations
The main regulations under the Workers’ Compensation Act.
Chronic Pain Regulations
Regulations dealing with chronic pain claims under workers’ compensation.
Official links
Human rights, pay equity and accessibility
Laws dealing with discrimination, equal opportunity, pay equity and barriers.
Human Rights Act
Nova Scotia’s law protecting equal dignity and opportunity, including in employment.
Pay Equity Act
Addresses sex-based pay discrimination in predominantly female job classes covered by the Act.
Accessibility Act
The provincial framework for identifying, preventing and removing disability barriers.
Official links
Pensions and retirement
The main provincial law and regulations for registered pension plans.
Pension Benefits Act
Rules for pension promises, plan administration and information for members and retirees.
Pension Benefits Regulations
The main regulations governing pension plans under the Act.
Official links
Public-sector and essential-services bargaining
Sector-specific bargaining laws for public employees and essential services.
Civil Service Collective Bargaining Act
Collective bargaining rules for Nova Scotia civil service employees.
Teachers’ Collective Bargaining Act
Collective bargaining rules for Nova Scotia teachers.
Essential Health and Community Services Act
Rules intended to maintain essential health and community services during a strike or lockout.
Highway Workers Collective Bargaining Act
Collective bargaining rules for provincial highway workers covered by the Act.
Official links
Official indexes and research tools
Use these sources to check for amendments, regulations and labour decisions.
Nova Scotia consolidated public statutes
The Legislature’s official alphabetical list of current consolidated public statutes.
Labour and employment databases
Provincial links to labour decisions, case law and collective agreement information.
A note about names
Nova Scotia does not have a law called the “Employment Rights Act.” Employment Rights is the Province’s plain-language name for Labour Standards information. The main law is the Labour Standards Code.