Labour Standards Guides Now Online

Employers and workers now have quick and easy access to commonly requested information about laws affecting their workplaces. Four new labour standards guides are now available on the Environment and Labour website.

"Posting these guides gives businesses and their employees much easier access to information on the Labour Standards Code and their rights under the code," said Environment and Labour Minister Kerry Morash.

Four plain-language brochures were produced - Labour Standards:
An Overview, How to File a Labour Standards Complaint, Responding to a Director's Order and How to Appeal a Decision of the Labour Standards Division.

A complete plain-language guide to the Labour Standards Code is also available online. The code establishes provisions for employment standards, such as minimum wage, vacation and special leave, designated holidays and termination procedures. The Labour Standards Code applies to all Nova Scotia workplaces, unless the workplace has established its own standards through a collective agreement.

Inquiries about rights and responsibilities in the workplace are common. In 2003-04, the department received about 41,000 queries by phone, representing an increase of about 18 per cent from the previous year. E-mail inquires saw the greatest increase. They were up 80 per cent from the previous year, from 483 to 866.

During the same time period, the department also reduced its backlog of complaints on workplace rights and labour standards. As of June 2004, the backlog of complaints dropped to less than 100, down from 800 in August 2003. Customer service has improved dramatically and will continue to improve in 2004.

"We're really encouraged by the progress we've made so far, and are working hard to continue to improve access to services for employers and employees," said Mary Belliveau, director of Labour Standards.

During 2003 the department implemented many improvements to the Labour Standards Code. It increased the minimum wage twice, to reach par with all other Atlantic provinces, and improved standards for overtime and vacation benefits, among other changes.

By improving online access to the division's many publications, the department is also providing employers and employees with convenient, responsive and accessible information.

The new brochures can be viewed online at <a href="http://www.gov.ns.ca/enla/labstand">www.gov.ns.ca/enla/labstand<a> .