A Moose Jaw restaurant company has become the first to face conviction under Saskatchewan’s legislation aimed at protecting foreign workers, with stricter penalties now in place. Dyan Jeny Enterprises, trading as Guac Mexi Grill, admitted guilt in Moose Jaw provincial court for imposing charges on a foreign worker for employment between August 2023 and February 2024, as disclosed by the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training. The violations occurred prior to July 1, 2024, falling under the former Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act, which has been replaced by the Immigration Services Act.

The enhanced legislation has bolstered the province’s measures for compliance and enforcement, as highlighted in the announcement. The charges against Dyan Jeny Enterprises stemmed from a ministry investigation following claims that the company compelled a foreign worker to pay $12,000 to retain their job, crucial for their Canadian permanent residency application.

As a result, 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 impacted worker. The updated Immigration Services Act, effective in 2024, imposes fines of up to $750,000 for individuals and $1.25 million for corporations, with the possibility of up to two years’ imprisonment upon conviction.

The ministry emphasized that under the new ISA, Saskatchewan now has increased powers to probe immigration-related misconduct and hold non-compliant employers, recruiters, and consultants responsible. Workers who feel their rights have been infringed upon can confidentially reach out to the ministry’s compliance branch via email at pcb@gov.sk.ca or by phone at 306-798-1350.