Easter Monday (not a statutory holiday in all provinces)
Victoria Day
Canada Day
Civic Holiday (not a statutory holiday in all provinces)
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day (statutory in some provinces)
Christmas Day
Boxing Day (not a statutory holiday in all provinces)
Leave
Paid general holidays include 6 days – such as New Year’s Day and Canada Day – while vacation benefits consist of 2 weeks after 1 year of employment (equivalent to 4% of wages) and 3 weeks after 5 years (equivalent to 6% of wages).
Employment Contracts
No federal or provincial law mandates written employment contracts but they are highly recommended to address locally mandated issues.
Types of Employment
There are two types of employment: Employees and Independent Contractors.
Employment Costs
Employers in Nova Scotia are responsible for several mandatory costs in addition to an employee’s gross salary. These include:
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Contributions: Employers match the employee’s contribution rate. For 2025, the employer’s contribution rate is 5.95% of the employee’s pensionable earnings, up to the maximum annual pensionable earnings limit.
Employment Insurance (EI) Premiums: Employers contribute at a rate of 2.212% of the employee’s insurable earnings, up to the annual maximum insurable earnings limit.
Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) Premiums3: Employers are required to pay assessments to the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia to cover the costs of work-related injuries and illnesses. The average assessment rate varies by industry and is calculated per $100 of assessable payroll.
Health Services Tax (Payroll Tax): Nova Scotia does not impose a specific payroll tax on employers.
According to a report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, for a $50,000 salary, an employer in Nova Scotia may pay approximately $5,233 in overall payroll taxes, which equates to an effective rate of 10.5%.
IC Class Factors
Independent Contractor (IC) classification factors include the following: Degree of control of worker; Provision of own tools; Financial risk in own business; Responsibility for hired workers; Chance for profit; Degree of integration into the client’s work flow; Intent of the parties; Written contract
Labor Leasing
Labour leasing is not specifically regulated, but temporary staffing agencies are required to comply with labor standards and other applicable laws.
Minimum Wage Requirements
The minimum wage is $15.65 starting on April 1, 2025.
Medical Benefits
Medical benefit plans are managed by each province. There is no requirement for medical benefits, but employers must adhere to employment contract terms if provided.
Probationary Periods
The probationary period lasts for 3 months, during which no termination notice is required.
Termination Notice
The termination notice requirements are based on the length of service as follows: Employees with 3 months to 2 years of service require 1 week of notice. Those with 2 to 5 years of service require 2 weeks of notice. For employees with 5 to 10 years of service, a 4-week notice is required. Employees with more than 10 years of service require an 8-week notice.
Severance
After ten years of services, the worker is entitled to one week’s pay for each year of service, up to sixteen weeks.
Pre-hire Checks
Pre-hire checks are permitted with consent and must be relevant to the job.
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