A restaurant company in Moose Jaw has become the first to face conviction under Saskatchewan’s foreign worker protection laws, which have recently been strengthened with harsher consequences. Dyan Jeny Enterprises, trading as Guac Mexi Grill, admitted guilt in Moose Jaw provincial court for requiring a foreign worker to pay a fee for employment between August 2023 and February 2024, as announced by the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training.
The violations occurred prior to July 1, 2024, and were prosecuted under the former Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act, which has now been replaced by the Immigration Services Act, reflecting the government’s commitment to enhancing regulatory measures.
The charges against Dyan Jeny Enterprises stemmed from a Ministry investigation following allegations that the company demanded a foreign worker to pay $12,000 to secure their job, crucial for the worker’s pursuit of permanent residency in Canada.
As a result of the case, the company was ordered by the court to pay a $5,000 fine, a $2,000 victim fine surcharge, and $12,000 in restitution to the affected employee. The updated Immigration Services Act, introduced in 2024, imposes fines of up to $750,000 for individuals and $1.25 million for corporations, along with a potential prison sentence of up to two years upon conviction.
The Ministry emphasized that under the new legislation, Saskatchewan possesses enhanced powers to investigate immigration-related misconduct and penalize non-compliant employers, recruiters, and consultants. Workers who believe their rights have been infringed upon can reach out to the ministry’s compliance branch confidentially via email at pcb@gov.sk.ca or by phone at 306-798-1350.