Bill 256 is a win for workers!
Earlier today, Nolan Young, Minister for Labour, Skills and Immigration, tabled Bill 256, an Act to Amend Chapter 246 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Labour Standards Code.
This bill will:
-Ban tip theft
-Reduce the threshold after which overtime must by paid from 48 hours in a week to 44 hours
-Close a loophole that allowed employers to deny workers overtime pay by claiming the additional time worked was “voluntary”
-Make directors liable for unpaid wages to employees
Today’s legislation marks real progress on improving minimum labour standards for workers across Nova Scotia. These changes will ensure that the earnings of some of the lowest paid and most precarious workers in our province are protected by the law.
The Federation would like to take a moment to thank all the workers who have campaigned for these changes over the years, and the leadership of organizations like the Halifax Workers’ Action Centre and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-NS.
Yesterday, workers were out at Labour Day events across the province talking to people about the need to strengthen labour standards and the Trade Union Act. While we will take the next few days to celebrate this win, we’ll be back at it in the coming weeks and months as we continue to build pressure for more progress for working people.
