Consultation to Be Held on Meal Breaks

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Nova Scotians are being invited to provide feedback to the Department of Environment and Labour about workers' legal right to take meal breaks.

The consultation will guide further discussion about possible amendments to the Labour Standards Code. The code does not currently provide Nova Scotia workers with the legal right to a meal break, although most employers do allow meal breaks for employees.

Amendments to the code that would give workers the legal right to meal breaks may be debated by the House of Assembly within the next few weeks.

All other Canadian provinces currently offer workers some guarantee that they are entitled to a meal break. Most provinces provide for a 30-minute, unpaid meal break after five hours of work.

The consultation period will run until Friday, Nov. 10. To learn more about labour standards or to take part in the consultation process, call 1-888-315-0110 or see the Department of Environment and Labour website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/employmentrights .

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FOR BROADCAST USE:

     Nova Scotia workers have an opportunity to discuss meal

breaks at work. Although Nova Scotia workers are not currently

entitled to meal breaks under the law, most employers do allow

meal breaks for employees.

     All other Canadian provinces currently guarantee meal breaks

for most workers most of the time.

     Amendments to the Labour Standards Code may be considered

following a period of public and stakeholder consultation that

begins today and concludes November 10th.

     To take part in the consultation, call 1-888-315-0110 or see

the Department of Environment and Labour website.

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Media Contact: Jacqueline May
              Environment and Labour
              902-424-0281
              E-mail: mayjm@gov.ns.ca