INCREASED SUPPORT FOR LABOUR STANDARDS AWARENESS IN THE NORTH

More information about provincial labour standards will be available to Northern Saskatchewan as a result of this year’s provincial budget.

“It is important that both workers and their employers understand their rights and responsibilities under provincial labour standards legislation,” Labour Minister David Forbes said.  “It became apparent during last summer’s consultations on the Northern Overtime Exemption that there isn’t enough awareness about this legislation.  We will use this new money to begin to address that need.”

Provincial labour standards govern a wide range of workplace topics including hours of work, overtime, minimum wage, annual and public holidays and various forms of leave, such as maternity, paternity and bereavement.

Currently, the department has regional offices in North Battleford, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Estevan, Regina, Moose Jaw, Swift Current and Prince Albert.  Saskatchewan’s north is served primarily by the one labour standards officer located in Prince Albert.

New funding of $100,000 will go to increasing the presence of Labour Standards in the North. The money will be applied to staff, office space and educational materials that will supplement existing resources, such as the toll-free information line and website, available to employers and workers throughout the province.

There are approximately 8,000 workers in Saskatchewan’s north, 4,000 of which fall under provincial labour standards.  The rest are primarily governed by federal labour standards or collective agreements.

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For more information, contact:

Nadine Sisk
Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4156
Email: nsisk@lab.gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-535-1930