Labour Standards

Canadian laws protect every worker in Canada. This includes temporary foreign workers like you.

Your employer:

• must pay you for your work
• must make sure that your workplace is safe
• cannot take your passport or work permit away from you

Every province and territory has an office that deals with labour and employment laws. A person at your local employment or labour standards office can talk to you about fair pay, hours of work, rest periods, working conditions and provide other services.

You do not need your employer’s permission to call the Labour Standards office or visit the website. Your employer cannot punish you or have you deported for it. You can also call anonymously – you do not have to give your name.

To call with inquiries or concerns about your rights as an employee, dial 424–4311, or 1-888-315-0110 outside of HRM.

Visit Nova Scotia Labour Standards for more information.

Occupation Health and Safety

Your health and safety in the workplace is protected by Nova Scotia’s Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations. It is the responsibility of the Department of Labour and Advanced Education to promote, coordinate, administer, and enforce occupational health and safety for you and your co-workers. Their goal is to establish and enforce clear standards to reduce occupational injury and illness.

You have the legal right to refuse to do work that you think is unsafe.

For more information on Occupational Health and Safety or for information on how to report a concern, visit Department of Labour and Advanced Education, Health and Safety.