The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Labour, proposed amendments to the Labour Standards Act in the House of Assembly today. These include additional unpaid job-protected leave for long-term illness, long-term injury and organ donation; and updated leave provisions for reservists.

With these amendments, workers will now have access of up to 27 weeks per year of job protected leave for long-term illness, long-term injury, or organ donation; or 104 weeks if an illness or injury is the result of a criminal offence.

If passed, the amendments will also update the province’s reservist leave provision to align with protections offered in other jurisdictions, providing reservists with greater access to training and development opportunities, and employers with increased certainty of the duration of the leave. These changes move towards a harmonized national standard for military leave in the country.

The Provincial Government is committed to ensuring labour standards legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador balances the needs of both employers and employees.

The amended Labour Standards Act lays the foundation for enhanced job protection for employees, while supporting business entities with better continuity planning.

Quotes
“This proposed update to the Labour Standards Act ensures those workers who have to be off work for extended periods of time can do so without the added burden of worry related to job security. Whether a worker needs unpaid time off to recover from illness, injury, or organ donation, or if they’re preparing to serve their country, it is important we recognize the need for job protection during that time.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister Responsible for Labour

“Diabetes Canada supports the proposed amendments to the Labour Standards Act in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. For the nearly 75,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians living with diabetes, these amendments would provide the critical time to take care of one’s health and ensure that the financial impacts of living with a complex condition are minimized through job protection.”
Maria Campbell
Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy at Diabetes Canada

“Nearly 40 per cent of people diagnosed with cancer are in their working years, ages 20 to 64. That means cancer often comes at a time when expenses are high, and others are depending on you. There are already enough worries that come with a cancer diagnosis; wondering if you have a job to come back to shouldn’t be one of them. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is demonstrating strong leadership for expanding job protection for those with serious illnesses to 27 weeks. We know that cancer doesn’t wait – but your job should.”
Andrea Seale
CEO of Canadian Cancer Society

-30-

Learn more
Issues Addressed by the Labour Standards Act – Environment and Climate Change

Follow us on X @GovNL and @ECC_GovNL

Like us on Facebook