Nova Scotia has introduced new legislation aimed at strengthening workplace protections, with changes to workers’ compensation, harassment prevention, and unpaid sick leave.
The Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act, tabled by the government on September 5, proposes a range of measures to modernize labour laws and enhance job security for workers dealing with illness or injury.
The new law will amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, and Labour Standards Code to address longstanding issues in workplace safety and employee rights. These changes are based on recommendations from the Workers’ Compensation Review Committee, which was published last week.
Key provisions include a requirement for the workers’ compensation system to be reviewed every five years and a new return-to-work process designed to guide both employers and employees from the time of injury until the worker can return to suitable employment.
Labour, Skills, and Immigration Minister Jill Balser said the legislation is a response to workers’ concerns. “Listening to workers and hearing their ideas and experiences is incredibly valuable. Their voices matter, and it’s important to take their concerns to heart and work to support them in any way possible,” she said. “I’m proud that, as a government, we can implement solutions that will make a meaningful difference for workers and for their families, now and for generations to come.”
The amendments also aim to create safer and more respectful workplaces by establishing stricter regulations on workplace harassment.
Changes to the Labour Standards Code include the introduction of five unpaid sick leave days, adding to the current three unpaid days allowed for medical appointments and family illness. The legislation will also allow for 27 weeks of unpaid leave for workers dealing with serious illness or injury, aligning with federal Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits.
Andrea Seale, CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society, praised the legislation for expanding job protection for those with serious illnesses. “Nearly 40 per cent of people diagnosed with cancer are in their working years, ages 20 to 64,” she said. “There are already enough worries that come with a cancer diagnosis; wondering if you have a job to come back to shouldn’t be one of them.”
Labour groups have also expressed support for the proposed changes. Danny Cavanagh, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, welcomed the plan to review the workers’ compensation system every five years. “We support the idea of reviewing the system every five years and look forward to collaborating with both the government and stakeholders,” he said. Cavanagh added that better awareness of the compensation system would help injured workers make more informed decisions.
Karen Adams, CEO of the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia, echoed those sentiments. “We look forward to doing our part to provide better service and to support better return-to-work outcomes in this province,” she said.
The Workers’ Compensation Review Committee, which conducted the first review of the system in more than 20 years, identified 10 priority areas for improvement. The review involved over 1,000 participants in engagement sessions across the province and is expected to impact around 353,000 workers and 20,600 employers insured under the Workers’ Compensation Board.
While the new measures have been broadly welcomed, some stakeholders have urged caution. Peter McLellan, spokesperson for the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia Stakeholders Coalition, said, “While the proposed changes have not been reviewed by the coalition, I believe the changes proposed by Labour, Skills and Immigration are very good first steps… but there is much more to be done.”
The government has emphasized the importance of swift action to improve workplace protections and provide greater security for Nova Scotians facing serious health challenges.