The federal government fined the proprietor of a Canadian Tire store in Etobicoke $111,000 for breaching Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program rules. The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) discovered that the store owner, Ezhil Natarajan, had violated two guidelines: mismatches between advertised job conditions and actual work conditions, and assigning employees to different roles than originally hired for.
ESDC’s findings were documented on a public database that tracks employer compliance with the TFW program, indicating that Natarajan’s company, Geethaezhil Inc., was deemed “ineligible” due to an outstanding penalty. This decision followed complaints from two former employees of the Etobicoke branch who shared their grievances with CBC News regarding mistreatment, poor working conditions, and underpayment by Natarajan.
Natarajan, who owns GeethaEzhil Inc., a company managing various Canadian Tire stores since 2012, did not respond immediately to CBC News’ request for comments. An ongoing investigation by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour is currently looking into Natarajan’s conduct.
ESDC stated that Geethaezhil Inc. faced an administrative and monetary penalty for non-compliance with the TFW program, leading to the company’s disqualification from hiring temporary foreign workers. Employers have the option to challenge ESDC’s decisions through a judicial review process.
Temporary foreign workers in Canada are entitled to the same employment standards and protections as citizens and permanent residents. The Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) emphasized the availability of programs and regulations to safeguard the rights of temporary foreign workers, including an open work permit for vulnerable workers. The government also operates a confidential tip line for foreign workers to report abuse without fear of reprisal.
Canadian Tire, as an organization, highlighted that each store operates independently with the authority to manage its staffing decisions. The store owned by Natarajan opened in 2023, according to company records.
Former employees, like Rowell Pailan and Jhan Cresencio, disclosed instances of underpayment and mistreatment by Natarajan. Pailan mentioned a reduction in his hourly wage after being hired for a supervisory role, while Cresencio faced verbal abuse. Cresencio was able to switch to an open work permit for vulnerable workers, prompting an employer inspection by IRCC to ensure compliance with job offers.
Pailan expressed satisfaction with the penalty imposed on Natarajan, hoping it would deter future mistreatment of employees. In a similar case, Alberta-based recruitment agencies were fined for charging workers, including Pailan, for job placements. These agencies are contesting the fines.
The issues raised by foreign workers underscore the importance of upholding fair labor practices and adherence to employment regulations within the TFW program.