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TL;DR

Saskatchewan charged Jorawar Singh and JD Trucking Ltd. under a provincial law meant to protect immigrants and foreign workers during recruitment and immigration.

Singh and the company each face a charge under section 7-6(1) of The Immigration Services Act, 2024. The province says they made or signed false statements, or gave information that was false, misleading, or inaccurate, around April 9 near Regina.

Both defendants were in Regina Provincial Court on September 2, and the case was postponed until September 28, according to the Saskatchewan government. JD Trucking has a terminal on North Service Road in Moose Jaw.

The allegations have not been proven in court. The province has not said what information was allegedly inaccurate, who got it, or if it was about recruitment, employment, or immigration documents. No worker was named in the government announcement.

The Immigration Services Act started on July 1, 2024, replacing the Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act. The new law gives the province more control over employers, recruiters, and immigration consultants and expands its ability to investigate.

The law bans employers from charging foreign workers recruitment fees, giving false information about job offers, threatening workers without a legal reason, or punishing anyone who files a complaint. Employers must also keep job offers, work permit details, recruiter contracts, and other required records for at least five years.

According to Saskatchewan’s employer guidance, a person can be fined up to $750,000, and a company can be fined up to $1.25 million. An employer’s registration can also be suspended or cancelled, which could stop them from hiring more foreign workers through provincial or federal immigration programs.

The penalties in any case depend on the court process and the details of the situation. Neither defendant has been found guilty or fined.

This court case is part of broader enforcement in the province. Saskatchewan has announced suspensions and cancellations of registrations for restaurants, construction companies, trucking firms, and other employers. CBC reported in August that the province has suspended or cancelled 79 business registrations since 2022 under the current or previous law.

If you are a foreign worker in Saskatchewan, keep copies of your job offer, employment contract, work permit, pay records, and any messages with recruiters or employers. These documents can help compliance officers review a complaint.

You do not need your employer’s or recruiter’s permission to contact Saskatchewan’s Program Compliance Branch. The province says any information you give to the branch is confidential.