Couple Charged with Exploiting Filipino Foreign Workers, abuses 7 Pinoy TFW

In April 2015, a couple in Red Deer County, Alberta was charged with human trafficking. There was also a report of alleged abuse of seven temporary foreign workers form the Philippines who reside in a hotel and were employed at an Econo Lodge in Red Deer County’s Gasoline Alley.

Varinder Sidhu (49 years old) and Ravinder “Ruby” Sidhu (46 years old) faced three charges:

1. Organizing the coming into Canada of one or more persons by means of abduction, fraud, deception or use or threat of force or coercion.
2. Employing a foreign national in a capacity in which the foreign national is not authorized to be employed.
3. Counselling, inducing, aiding or abetting or attempting to counsel, aid or abet any person to directly or indirectly misrepresent or withhold material facts relating to a relevant matter that induces or could induce an error in the administration of this Act is guilty of an offence.

According to what was said in the court, the couple only paid each worker $10 an hour and $7.50 an hour for overtime worked, both rates were way below the minimum wage in the province. They also charged the workers $400 each per month for a room in a hotel where there were four people living in one room. The victims were reported to have been forced to work beyond what is in their contracts.

The Sidhus was sentenced last Thursday by Provincial Court Judge D.J. Plosz. The judge sentenced Ravinder Sidhu to a two years less a day to serve in the community. As for Varinder Sidhu, he was sentenced for failing to keep employment records as required by the Alberta employment standards code. He was sentenced like Ruby, plus a $5,000 fine.

The couple was also ordered to pay back $91,621.83 in wages which included compensation for unpaid wages and unpaid overtime. Unfortunately, the couple has yet to pay the victims for the cost of their flights to and from the Philippines which was was stated in their labour contract.

Sadly, this type of labour situation is common anywhere in the world. There is a lot of employers who use OFWs for cheap labour to make money for themselves. Whether is it happening in Canada or in Saudi Arabia, know that everyone has the right to report any type of abuse in the work place. No one deserves to be taken advantage of when all they wanted was to earn a living and provide for their families.

Source: Globalnews.ca