The federal government has imposed a fine of $111,000 on the owner of a Canadian Tire store in Etobicoke for breaching Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program rules. The violations, identified by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), included discrepancies in wages, work conditions, and job roles compared to the employment offers. The store owner, Ezhil Natarajan, was flagged as “ineligible” for the TFW program due to an outstanding fine, as reported on a public database.
ESDC’s decision, issued in July following complaints from former employees of the store, revealed allegations of mistreatment, poor working conditions, and underpayment. Natarajan, who has operated several Canadian Tire stores under GeethaEzhil Inc. since 2012, has not yet responded to the accusations. An ongoing investigation by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour is looking into the matter.
Geethaezhil Inc. received an “administrative and monetary penalty” from ESDC for non-compliance with the TFW program, leading to a prohibition on hiring temporary foreign workers. Employers can challenge ESDC’s decisions through a judicial review process. Temporary foreign workers are entitled to the same employment standards as Canadian citizens, with mechanisms in place to safeguard their rights and address grievances.
The affected employees, Rowell Pailan and Jhan Cresencio, reported instances of wage reductions and mistreatment by Natarajan. Pailan expressed relief at the fine imposed on the store owner, hoping for justice and improved conditions for future employees. Cresencio, who transitioned to an open work permit due to the abuse, has not commented on the recent developments. Additionally, a recruitment agency was fined for charging job placement fees, affecting Pailan’s employment at Canadian Tire.
