P.E.I. farm companies ordered to pay thousands in unpaid wages to foreign workers after CBSA investigation
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The province has ordered a P.E.I. agricultural firm to pay again over $3,000 in unpaid wages to a migrant employee following a Canadian Border Providers Company investigation.
Based on court docket paperwork, P.E.I.’s inspector of labour requirements filed an order towards Roger O’Neill and Island Gold Honey Inc., who O’Neill is listed because the president of, on Aug. 12 to pay $3,288.60 in unpaid wages and advantages.
Within the paperwork, a breakdown of the wages owed confirmed O’Neill and the corporate withheld $3,162.12 in wages and $126.48 in trip pay to an worker.
A judgment was made by the Supreme Courtroom of P.E.I. towards Island Gold Honey Inc. and O’Neill on Oct. 27 for the unpaid wages and advantages. Based on the paperwork, the total quantity was paid on Nov. 16, 2022.
The authorized motion towards O’Neill and the corporate comes simply months after CBSA brokers raided properties belonging to Island Gold Honey Inc. and a number of different P.E.I. companies, in addition to a property in Brampton, Ont., on June 21.
In the course of the search, investigators from the company seized paperwork, computer systems, different digital storage units and different potential proof.
Based on just lately launched warrant paperwork, searches had been performed on the properties of Canadian Nectar Merchandise, Fruits Canada, Aton Gateway Enterprise Options, Island Gold Honey Inc., Atlantic Canada Nurseries. A search was additionally performed on the property of CWC Immigration Options Inc. In Brampton.
The paperwork additionally included seven autos that had been looked for proof in the course of the raids.
Within the paperwork, a CBSA officer notes the investigation into O’Neill and the aforementioned companies started after the company acquired a referral from Employment and Social Improvement Canada, which included the complaints of a number of momentary overseas staff.
These complaints alleged the employees had been mistreated by O’Neill and had been topic to horrible residing circumstances. In addition they alleged the employees had been employed and acquired work permits for Island Gold Honey Inc., however that no precise work existed on the enterprise after they arrived within the province.
The paperwork stated the complainants had been instructed they might as an alternative be working at Canadian Nectar Merchandise Inc., additionally situated close to Montague, nevertheless, that work was not licensed by their work permits.
Nevertheless, these complainants alleged they had been supplied little to no hours of labor by the corporate’s proprietor, recognized as Kamalpreet Khaira. Khaira can also be listed as an proprietor of CWC Immigration Options Inc.
The complainants additionally alleged they got fraudulent pay stubs which confirmed they labored full-time hours and would usually need to pay money to obtain a test for simply over $900 each two weeks.
Different allegations from the complainants included being pressured to signal resignation letters and different non-translated paperwork with out clarification, being pressured to repay airfare after being instructed it could be lined and being instructed to “cover the reality” if the employees had been ever questioned by authorities.
The paperwork present that almost all, if not all, complainants had been linked to Island Gold Honey Inc. by Vietnamese firm Ally Investments and Immigration Guide. In virtually each case, complainants alleged they paid Ally $50,000 USD for them to course of their utility for a job at Island Gold Honey Inc.
Complainants interviewed by CBSA brokers alleged that whereas their permits allowed them to work particularly for both Island Gold Honey Inc. or Canadian Nectar Merchandise Inc., some staff had been despatched to completely different areas to work illegally throughout the province and nation, together with areas in Ontario, British Columbia and even an organization in Summerside.
That firm’s identify and its proprietor’s id had been redacted from the warrant paperwork.
Whereas the CBSA investigation continues to be ongoing, and lots of of those allegations have but to be confirmed in court docket, in a Dec. 8 article, CBC reported the province’s Employment Requirements Department ordered Canadian Nectar Merchandise Inc. to pay sums starting from $5,000 to $15,000 in unpaid wages to 4 workers.
Fruits Canada was additionally ordered to pay one worker $233 in unpaid wages, the article stated.
SaltWire Community contacted the Division of Financial Progress, Tourism and Tradition to get copies of the orders filed towards the 2 corporations, nevertheless, a spokesperson for the division declined to offer the paperwork, saying it was as a result of privateness considerations.
Cody McEachern is a enterprise reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He could be reached by e mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @CodyInHiFi.
