Opposition and Labour Groups Demand Action on Wages, Overtime, and Migrant Worker Rights
Opposition politicians and labour advocates pressed the Nova Scotia government Tuesday to strengthen protections for workers, arguing the province lags behind the rest of Canada on wages, overtime rules, and rights for migrant workers.
The calls came during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Human Resources at Province House, where advocates and government officials squared off over the state of labour conditions in the province.
Nova Scotia Near the Bottom on Worker Protections
Melissa Marsman, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, told the committee the province ranks among the lowest in the country on worker protections and wages. She pointed to a widening gap between the projected living wage and the actual minimum wage — a trend she said has worsened since 2018.
“I’m not going to sit here and say a minimum wage increase means nothing, but they clearly need to keep pace with the cost of living, which is not happening,” Marsman said.
Overtime Threshold Among the Highest in Canada
Marsman also highlighted Nova Scotia’s overtime rules as a particular concern. The province only requires overtime pay after 48 hours of work in a single week — one of the highest thresholds in Canada. New Brunswick’s threshold sits at 44 hours, while Newfoundland and Labrador’s is 40 hours.
She warned the high threshold is pushing workers to take on excessive hours just to make ends meet. “We have workers who are working these overtime shifts because they don’t make enough money in this province,” she said. “They’re going to burn out. That’s going to put a strain on our health-care system where there’s already a strain.”
Paul Wozney, the NDP’s labour critic, called on the province to lower the threshold to 40 hours, estimating the change would put an extra $500 per month in the pockets of most Nova Scotian workers.
“We’ve heard the premier champion the idea that if it’s good enough for other places, it’s good enough for Nova Scotia — and yet, protections afforded to workers elsewhere in Canada are not being afforded to Nova Scotian workers,” Wozney said.
Migrant Workers Face Particular Vulnerabilities
Stacey Gomez of the Centre for Migrant Worker Rights Nova Scotia urged the committee to remove agricultural exemptions that currently exclude many migrant workers from overtime and holiday pay protections. She also called for the introduction of paid sick days and immediate MSI (provincial health insurance) coverage upon arrival for migrant workers.
Gomez cited research from her organization showing the scale of the problem. “In our study, 77 per cent of migrant workers feared that they would be fired for simply taking time off to address health needs,” she told the committee.
Government Points to Recent Improvements
Ryan Grant, deputy minister with the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, acknowledged the concerns but told the committee the province has taken meaningful steps forward. He pointed to the protection of five unpaid sick days, increases to workers’ compensation, and new leaves for miscarriages and intimate partner violence.
“There have been a number of initiatives and efforts as of late to look at a number of different areas for worker protection — to advance and then strengthen,” Grant said.
Critics, however, argue those measures fall short of what workers in Nova Scotia need to keep pace with rising costs across the province.
