30 Jan Government Announces Largest Increase to Minimum Wage in a Decade 

Nova Scotia’s economy is growing, and the province is committed to making sure all workers thrive.

On April 1st, Nova Scotia’s minimum wage rate will increase by $1 an hour, to $12.55 per hour.

This is the largest annual increase to Nova Scotia’s minimum wage in ten years.

The increase brings the province closer to the highest minimum wage in the country, which is $15 per hour.

Government is also eliminating the inexperienced minimum wage.

Employers can pay an inexperienced rate when an employee has less than three months’ experience in the kind of work they do and has worked for them for less than three months.

The decision to remove the inexperienced minimum wage will bring the province in line with the rest of the country.

Furthermore, the province will support businesses by eliminating the partial hour rule in Nova Scotia; currently, the partial hour rule requires employers to round up time worked for minimum wage earners. This means if an employee works for 15 to 30 minutes, the employee must be paid for a half hour. If an employee works for 31 to 60 minutes, the employee must be paid for a full hour.

Nova Scotia has the lowest business incorporation fee in the country; there is no fee to register in the first year of business.

For a copy of the Nova Scotia Minimum Wage Review Committee Report, please visit: https://novascotia.ca/lae/pubs