A restaurant business in Moose Jaw has become the first to face a conviction under Saskatchewan’s legislation safeguarding foreign workers, now bolstered with stricter penalties. Dyan Jeny Enterprises, trading as Guac Mexi Grill, admitted guilt in Moose Jaw provincial court for unlawfully charging a foreign worker for employment expenses between August 2023 and February 2024, as announced by the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training.
The company’s transgressions occurred before July 1, 2024, falling under the former Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act, which has since been replaced by the Immigration Services Act. The updated law has fortified the province’s oversight and enforcement mechanisms, as highlighted in the announcement.
The charges against Dyan Jeny Enterprises stemmed from a ministry inquiry into allegations that the business compelled a foreign worker to pay $12,000 to secure their job, crucial for their Canadian permanent residency aspirations.
Following the case, the company was mandated by the court to pay a $5,000 fine, a $2,000 victim fine surcharge, and provide $12,000 in restitution to the impacted worker. The revised Immigration Services Act, in force from 2024, imposes penalties of up to $750,000 for individuals and $1.25 million for corporations, with potential imprisonment of up to two years upon conviction.
The ministry emphasized that under the new legislation, Saskatchewan has expanded powers to probe immigration-related wrongdoings and hold non-compliant employers, recruiters, and consultants answerable. Workers who feel their rights have been violated can discreetly reach out to the ministry’s compliance branch via email at pcb@gov.sk.ca or by phone at 306-798-1350.