The Cuban government is reportedly compelling Cuban workers in Canada to remit a significant portion of their earnings to Cuba, as disclosed by two former employees who shared their experiences with CBC News. These workers also mentioned that the Cuban Communist Party enforces attendance at political workshops, mandates reporting on interactions with Canadian colleagues, restricts movements, and monitors relationships outside the workplace.
Similar instances of wage confiscation by the Cuban government have been noted in other nations, such as Brazil, where Cuban doctors raised concerns leading to a Brazilian court labeling the practice as akin to “slave labor.” In Canada, approximately six Cuban professionals are employed at a cobalt and nickel refinery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, operated as a partnership between a Cuban state nickel company and Sherritt International. Additionally, around four Cuban workers are engaged in another joint venture in Nassau, Bahamas, alongside Canadian counterparts, receiving payment in Canadian dollars subject to confiscation.
Former employees from both operations revealed that wage confiscation of Cuban workers abroad has been a longstanding practice. While Canadian labor laws supposedly protect all workers, the former employees noted that raising complaints poses significant risks for Cuban workers.
The collaboration between Sherritt and the Cuban government, spanning over three decades, involves mining ore in Cuba, shipping it to Alberta for refining, and marketing the metals internationally. To safeguard the identities of Cuban workers and their families in Cuba, CBC News has chosen to conceal their names.
Cuban-born researcher Maria Werlau has extensively documented instances of wage confiscation by the Cuban government in various countries, underscoring the challenges faced by Cuban workers abroad. Despite earning more than they would in Cuba, these workers are compelled to remit a substantial portion of their salaries back to Cuba, leaving them with limited funds for personal expenses.
The Cuban workers emphasized the oppressive control exerted by the Cuban government over their lives, including restrictions on relationships with Canadians, limitations on movements, and surveillance of online activities. While the workers acknowledged that some Canadian colleagues might be aware of the situation, they clarified that Sherritt was not directly involved in the wage confiscation scheme.
Sherritt’s director of corporate affairs, Tom Halton, refuted any allegations of the company’s involvement in wage confiscation, affirming compliance with Canadian laws. The Cuban Foreign Ministry and the Embassy of Cuba in Canada declined to provide comments on the matter.
Concerns have been raised about the lack of a clear mechanism for addressing worker grievances when fears of reprisals prevent official complaints. The workers underscored the need for government intervention to address the challenges faced by Cuban workers in joint ventures, emphasizing the importance of ensuring fair treatment and protection of workers’ rights.
