A hotel chain in Manitoba has been ordered to pay over $100,000 to three foreign workers following the denial of the company’s appeal by the provincial labour board. The Western Star Inn & Suites failed to support its claims against the employees at its Melita location, with the board highlighting issues such as long work hours, stressful conditions, and inadequate training.
The labour board’s decision came after a series of hearings where testimonies revealed concerns about employee treatment, including allegations of working excessive hours and facing challenges with training and staffing. One of the affected workers, Victor Padilla Ruiz from Mexico, accused the hotel of exploiting him by reneging on promises to assist him in obtaining legal status in Canada.
The board criticized the hotel chain for presenting unreliable witnesses and making inconsistent statements during the proceedings. It highlighted discrepancies in the testimonies provided by the company’s representatives and noted the absence of crucial witnesses in the case. The board also pointed out that the payroll manager’s statements were deemed illogical and not reflective of proper operational practices.
The ruling mandated Western Star to compensate the workers based on calculations by an employment standards officer. Padilla Ruiz was awarded over $86,500, while two other employees, Montserrat Del Toro and Rajbinder Gill Mathias, were set to receive approximately $23,100 and $28,300, respectively. Del Toro, a Mexican national, was found to have been paid below the minimum wage and irregularly, prompting the board to order restitution.
In a separate incident, Western Star was deemed ineligible to hire temporary foreign workers under a federal program due to outstanding penalties. The company faced fines for violating regulations related to employing foreign workers and was under scrutiny for failing to comply with job descriptions provided to the government. Immigration and Citizenship Canada’s list of non-compliant employers highlighted these violations, resulting in financial penalties for the hotel chain.
The affected workers expressed relief at the Manitoba ruling and called for better oversight to prevent similar exploitation cases. They emphasized the importance of upholding worker rights and ensuring fair treatment in the labor market.
