Government Introduces NAALC Legislation

Nova Scotian exporters and foreign workers will be better protected by the proposed North American Agreement on Labour Co-operation Act.

Government today, April 25, introduced a bill to become a signatory to the North American Agreement on Labour Co-operation. The agreement provides a remedy through a dispute resolution process for Nova Scotia exporters should they be negatively affected by unenforced labour laws in Mexico and the United States.

"Nova Scotia is committed to upholding labour laws and standards of living, not only for our citizens, but for foreign workers in this province," said Mark Parent, Minister for Labour and Workforce Development.

"Entering this agreement will also give Nova Scotia more opportunities to increase our trade and immigration relationships within the United States and Mexico, and work toward a level playing field in terms of labour co-operation."

The agreement is based on the principle that each country will enforce the labour laws they have in place. It will allow orders to be enforced by the courts in Nova Scotia.

This is a labour side-agreement to the North American Free Trade Agreement and links labour and working conditions to trade.