New BrunswickBill 6First Reading
Bill 6: An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act
Sponsor: Hon. Alyson TownsendIntroduced October 27, 2026Checked October 28, 2026
Read the official textOfficial version — Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Latest development
Received first reading on .
Next: Second Reading debate
What this bill does
This New Brunswick bill amends the Employment Standards Act to create a licensing regime for foreign worker recruiters and tighten registration requirements for employers who hire foreign workers, adding new protections against exploitation, a public register, and stronger enforcement tools.
Plain-language summary by Legisail — not legal advice.
Business impact
EmploymentCompliance
This bill directly affects two groups in New Brunswick: employers in any industry who recruit foreign workers (such as agriculture, hospitality, construction, or food processing), and third-party recruiters or staffing agents who help connect foreign workers with those employers. Employers will need to register with the Director, meet new eligibility requirements, renew annually, and keep records for at least three years. Recruiters operating as individuals will need a provincial licence starting April 1, 2028, pay associated fees, and may be required to post financial security. Both groups face new prohibitions — such as charging fees to workers or misrepresenting job conditions — and can face administrative penalties that can now be enforced as court judgments.
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Where this bill is
First ReadingOctober 27, 2026
Next: Second Reading debate
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- Bill number
- 6
- Type
- Government
- Jurisdiction
- New Brunswick
- Session
- 61-3
- Takes effect
- In stages from January 1, 2028