Retail Business Designated Day Closing Act Passes

Retail workers and businesses in Nova Scotia now have clarity on days businesses must close.

The Retail Business Designated Day Closing Act was passed today, Dec. 13, and takes effect immediately.

"We are pleased to support a bill that provides clarity and direction to our retailers and their employees," said Mark Parent, Minister of Environment and Labour. "Retail workers now know what days they will have off throughout the year and businesses know what days they must close."

The act prohibits certain retail businesses from opening on eight days throughout the year.

Of those days, five are paid holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day.

The other three days that retailers must close on are Boxing Day, Easter Sunday, and Thanksgiving Day. Employers are not required to treat these days as paid holidays.

Fines for opening on a designated closing day will be a maximum of $50,000 or the gross sales of the retail business for that day, whichever is greater.

For more information on which businesses are affected by the Retail Business Designated Day Closing Act call the Labour Standards Division at 1-888-315-0110, or see the Environment and Labour website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla .