From Broken to Better:

The Campaign to Change Labour Standards in Nova Scotia

Over the course of 2025, we spoke with hundreds of workers across the province, especially those working in retail, hospitality, and non-union construction. Through the conference held in September 2025, in-person conversations at workplaces (malls, restaurants, construction sites, and nearby coffee shops), and an online survey, workers shared their experiences and made recommendations for change.

This report reflects what we heard. It outlines the issues workers told us make their working lives unnecessarily difficult, and in some cases egregiously unfair. It also sets out a range of recommendations for improving labour standards in Nova Scotia.

In Spring 2026, the WAC launched our campaign to modernize and strengthen the province’s Labour Standards Code. While the report contains many recommendations, six priority demands emerged clearly from our discussions with employees, working under Nova Scotia regulation:

End no-cause termination, and require employers to give cause for termination after 12 months of employment.
10 paid sick days per year for every full time worker.
Requiring 2 weeks advanced notice of scheduling so workers can plan for the future.
Shortening the work week, so workers qualify for overtime pay after 40 hours worked.
Making Remembrance Day and retail closing days Statutory Holidays, bringing us in-line with other provinces.
Close the tip theft loophole and make it illegal for bosses to steal workers' tips