A business running a dining establishment in Moose Jaw has become the first to receive a conviction under Saskatchewan’s migrant worker protection laws, which have been made stricter with increased penalties. Dyan Jeny Enterprises, trading as Guac Mexi Grill, admitted guilt in Moose Jaw provincial court for requiring a foreign worker to pay fees or expenses for employment from August 2023 to February 2024, as stated by the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training in a press release. The violations were addressed under the former Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act, as they occurred before July 1, 2024, before it was replaced by the Immigration Services Act. The updated legislation has bolstered the province’s oversight and enforcement mechanisms, as noted in the release.
The charges against Dyan Jeny Enterprises stemmed from a ministry inquiry into allegations that the company demanded $12,000 from a foreign worker to retain their job, which the worker relied on for a chance at permanent residency in Canada. The organization was instructed by a judge to pay a $5,000 fine, a $2,000 victim surcharge, and $12,000 in restitution to the impacted worker. The new Immigration Services Act, effective in 2024, imposes fines of up to $750,000 for individuals and $1.25 million for corporations, with potential imprisonment of up to two years upon conviction.
According to the ministry’s release, the Immigration Services Act provides Saskatchewan with enhanced powers to investigate immigration-related infractions and to hold non-compliant employers, recruiters, and consultants responsible. Workers who suspect their rights have been violated can reach out to the ministry’s compliance division confidentially via email at pcb@gov.sk.ca or by phone at 306-798-1350.
