Saskatchewan records its first conviction under former foreign-worker protection law

What the court ordered

Saskatchewan announced on August 13 that Dyan Jeny Enterprises, operating as Guac Mexi Grill in Moose Jaw, pleaded guilty in Provincial Court to charging a foreign worker a fee or expense for employment. The conduct occurred between August 2023 and February 2024.

The court imposed a $5,000 fine and a $2,000 victim fine surcharge. It also ordered the employer to repay $12,000 to the affected worker. The province said the investigation began after an allegation that the worker had been required to pay $12,000 to keep a job that was connected to the worker’s pathway to permanent residence.

Why this matters to foreign workers

• An employer cannot require a foreign worker to pay for a job or recover recruitment-related employment costs from the worker.
• A job offer, continued employment or immigration support cannot lawfully be used as leverage to demand payment from a worker.
• A worker does not need an employer’s, recruiter’s or consultant’s permission to contact Saskatchewan’s Program Compliance Branch.
• The province says information provided to the branch is kept confidential. Workers may call 833-613-0485 if they have questions, concerns about their rights or information about a possible violation.

The current law is stronger

The offences were prosecuted under the Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act, 2013 because they happened before July 1, 2024. Saskatchewan’s Immigration Services Act, 2024 replaced that legislation on July 1, 2024 and expanded the province’s investigation and enforcement powers.

The current law can apply to employers, recruiters and immigration consultants. Saskatchewan states that a conviction can now lead to penalties of up to $750,000 for an individual or $1.25 million for a corporation, as well as imprisonment of up to two years.

What workers should keep

• Copies of job offers, employment contracts, pay statements and immigration-support documents.
• Messages, receipts, bank records or transfer records connected to a request for payment.
• The names and contact details of the employer, recruiter or representative involved.
• A dated record of threats, pressure, changes to promised duties or wages, and any request to return money to the employer.

What this decision does—and does not—change

The announcement does not create a new immigration stream or change federal work-permit eligibility. It is a provincial enforcement result that confirms Saskatchewan can investigate and prosecute employment-related exploitation connected to immigration.

A complaint about an employer is separate from an immigration application. Anyone concerned about their status, work authorization or permanent-residence strategy should obtain advice based on their own documents and deadlines, while urgent safety or criminal concerns should be directed to the appropriate authorities.