Employer accused of misrepresenting employment opportunities, exploiting foreign nationals' fear or lack of experience
An employer in Saskatchewan has been charged with multiple offences related to the treatment of two foreign workers under provincial immigration and recruitment legislation.
Rodney Sidloski is facing three charges involving a foreign worker under section 22 of The Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act, 2013 (FWRISA), the provincial government said in a news release.
The alleged offences took place between May 2022 and August 2024 at HELP International Shelterbelt Center, a tree farm near Weyburn, Sask.
Employers using Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) are facing unprecedented financial penalties and lengthy bans, even as the number of federal inspections has fallen, according to a recent report.
Allegations against employer
According to the Saskatchewan government, Sidloski is charged with:
-
Producing or distributing false or misleading information including producing false payroll records as prohibited by section 22(a) of FWRISA, contrary to sections 40(1)(i) and 40(2).
-
Misrepresenting employment opportunities including misrepresenting the position, duties, length of employment, wages and benefits or other terms of employment as prohibited by section 22(c) of FWRISA, contrary to sections 40(1)(i) and 40(2).”
-
Taking unfair advantage of a foreign nationals’ trust or exploiting their fear or lack of experience or knowledge as prohibited by section 22(g) of FWRISA, contrary to section 40(1)(i) and 40(2).
The Saskatchewan government said Sidloski also faces three charges involving a second foreign worker under section 22 of FWRISA and section 5 of The Immigration Services Act (ISA). These alleged offences occurred at the same tree farm between June 2022 and June 2024.
In relation to the second worker, Sidloski is charged with:
-
Producing or distributing false or misleading information including producing false payroll records as prohibited by section 22(a) of FWRISA, contrary to sections 40(1)(i) and 40(2).
-
Taking unfair advantage of a foreign nationals’ trust or exploiting their fear or lack of experience or knowledge as prohibited by section 22(g) of FWRISA, contrary to section 40(1)(i) and 40(2).
-
Producing or distributing false or misleading information including producing false payroll records as prohibited by section 5-1(a) of ISA, contrary to sections 7-6 (1)(k) and 7-6(2).
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
“While the ISA and FWRISA specifically protect against the unique situations that immigrants and foreign workers may find themselves in, all employees whether Canadian citizens or permanent and temporary residents are protected by employment standards and occupational health and safety provisions within The Saskatchewan Employment Act,” said the Saskatchewan government.
Fraudulent migrant worker schemes
Earlier this month, the Superior Court of Quebec approved a $2.1‑million settlement in a class action over an alleged fraudulent migrant‑worker recruitment scheme, ordering compensation for hundreds of workers and imposing ongoing compliance obligations on the companies involved.
In 2025, Amnesty International released a report detailing how the country has implemented rules that lead to harsh working conditions for migrant workers. That came after, in an August 2024 report, Tomoya Obokata, United Nations special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, noted that the TFW Program “serves as a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery, as it institutionalizes asymmetries of power that favour employers and prevent workers from exercising their rights”.
Overall, 44% of Canadians support phasing out the TFWP, while 30% are opposed and 18% are neutral or undecided, according to a previous Abacus Data report.
