Nova Scotia Workers Remain Protected

Nova Scotia retail workers affected by changes to retail business openings will continue to be protected from having to work on Sundays and certain holidays.

The decision to remove restrictions on retail business openings does not affect changes made to the Labour Standards Code proclaimed on July 19.

Those changes provide workers in some sectors the right to refuse to work on Sundays and certain holidays.

Retail workers who have the right to refuse to work are protected against retaliation and can be ordered reinstated with back pay if their employment is terminated because they refuse.

Employees of retail businesses which have traditionally opened on Sundays are exempt from these protections. Those businesses include drugstores, restaurants and convenience stores.

For more information see the Department of Environment and Labour website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla or phone the labour standards division at 1-888-315-0110 .