The federal government has imposed a fine of $111,000 on the proprietor of a Canadian Tire store in Etobicoke for breaching Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program regulations. The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) discovered that the store owner, Ezhil Natarajan, violated two key guidelines of the program. These violations included discrepancies in wages, work conditions, and job roles compared to the initial employment offers.
ESDC’s investigation findings were documented in a public database that assesses employers’ adherence to the TFW program. Natarajan’s company, Geethaezhil Inc., was marked as “ineligible” for the program due to an outstanding penalty. The federal decision was made in July following complaints from two former employees of the Etobicoke branch, who detailed mistreatment, poor working conditions, and receiving lower wages than agreed upon.
Natarajan, who oversees various Canadian Tire stores under GeethaEzhil Inc., has not responded to requests for comment. An ongoing investigation by the Ontario Ministry of Labour is being conducted into Natarajan’s practices. The ESDC confirmed that Geethaezhil Inc. incurred an administrative and monetary penalty for non-compliance with the TFW program, resulting in the company being prohibited from hiring temporary foreign workers.
Temporary foreign workers in Canada are entitled to the same rights and protections as citizens and permanent residents, according to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Programs such as open work permits for vulnerable workers are in place to safeguard and enhance the welfare of temporary foreign workers. Additionally, a confidential tip line is available for foreign workers to report mistreatment anonymously.
While Canadian Tire has not responded to recent requests for comments, the company emphasizes that each store is independently owned and operated. Foreign workers shared accounts of underpayment and mistreatment, prompting investigations and penalties for non-compliant employers. The affected workers have since relocated in search of better opportunities and hope for justice and improved conditions for future employees.
