In an effort to maintain the employer-employee relationship and provide employers with additional time to recall their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Provincial Government has extended the time period that converts a temporary layoff into a permanent termination.

Previously, under the Labour Standards Act, an employee temporarily laid off for longer than 13 weeks in a period of 20 consecutive weeks would be considered as permanently terminated. As a result of today’s announcement, the Provincial Government has extended the period that an employee can remain temporarily laid off to 26 weeks in a period of 33 consecutive weeks, thereby helping employees stay connected to their jobs.

The time period for making a complaint to the Director of Labour Standards has also been temporarily extended to 12 months from its previous six months.

Both extensions are retroactive to March 18, 2020 and will end on September 18, 2020.

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“Our government remains committed to the health and safety of the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. We have been proactive in implementing measures to flatten the curve to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As a result of these measures, there has been an impact on employees and employers. This temporary extension provides both with more time before a temporary layoff becomes a permanent termination, ensuring they are not forced to prematurely end the employer-employee relationship.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

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Media contact
Ryan Crocker
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
709-729-1795, 725-9595
ryancrocker@gov.nl.ca