In a first-of-its-kind case in Canada, three restaurant employers in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, have been charged with violating the province’s foreign worker protection laws.
Kartikkumar Prakashkumar Patel, Rutvik Hasmukhbhai Patel, and Piyushkumar Mafatbhai Patel face three counts under the Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act for allegedly:
Charging foreign workers employment fees,
Exploiting their trust or fear, and
Retaliating against workers involved in investigations.
The alleged offences occurred between August 2023 and February 2024 at Guac Mexi Grill in Moose Jaw. The accused are set to appear in provincial court on Nov. 25.
While the old act has since been replaced by the Immigration Services Act (effective July 2024), the province says this marks the first time charges have been laid under provincial immigration legislation.
Deputy Minister Drew Wilby said Saskatchewan’s new compliance model focuses on “education, intervention and enforcement” and that penalties under the new law are now much tougher — up to $750,000 for individuals, $1.25 million for businesses, and two years in jail.
“This is the first of its kind in Canada under a provincial statute,” Wilby said. “Our officers are specially trained and have legal authority to lay charges.”
Immigration lawyer Chris Veeman welcomed the charges, calling them “a long-overdue step toward protecting vulnerable workers.” He said exploitation often includes forcing workers to pay for fake job offers or return part of their wages off the books.
“There’s a real imbalance of power between a Canadian employer and a foreign worker,” Veeman said. “It’s good to see stronger enforcement because this is a real problem.”
The province’s Program Compliance Branch led the investigation with assistance from the Moose Jaw Police Service and RCMP. Officials urged foreign and temporary workers who believe their rights have been violated to contact the branch confidentially at pcb@gov.sk.ca or 306-798-1350.
Under Saskatchewan law, no worker needs an employer’s permission to file a complaint, and all information is kept confidential.
This landmark case signals a tougher stance on employer misconduct — and a warning that exploitation of foreign workers will no longer go unchecked in Saskatchewan.
