The Cuban government is compelling Cuban workers in Canada to remit a significant portion of their earnings to Cuba, as disclosed by two former employees interviewed by CBC News. These workers also revealed that the Cuban Communist Party mandates attendance at “political-ideological workshops,” reporting on interactions with Canadian counterparts, restricting movement, and overseeing relationships beyond work commitments.
Previous instances of Cuban government wage confiscation have been reported in various countries, such as Brazil, where Cuban doctors challenged the practice in court, leading to a ruling describing it as “slave labor.” In Canada, several Cuban professionals are employed at a cobalt and nickel refinery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, operated under a joint venture between Cuba’s state nickel company and Sherritt International. Additionally, a few Cuban workers are based at another joint venture in Nassau, Bahamas, working alongside Canadian colleagues and receiving their wages in Canadian dollars, subject to confiscation.
According to the former workers, the practice of wage confiscation for Cuban workers posted abroad has been entrenched for many years. While Canadian labor laws protect all workers, enforcement largely depends on formal complaints, which the former employees argue pose significant risks for Cuban workers.
The partnership between Sherritt and the Cuban government, spanning over three decades, involves mining operations in Moa, Cuba, with subsequent refining in Alberta. To safeguard the identities of Cuban workers and their families in Cuba, CBC News has agreed to maintain anonymity.
Documented by researcher Maria Werlau, Cuban government wage confiscation has been observed during medical missions in several countries, including Brazil, Jamaica, and the Middle East. Although Cuban workers in democratic nations like Canada earn comparatively higher wages, they contend that true freedom remains elusive due to the government’s control over their earnings.
Cuban workers dispatched to Sherritt’s operations outside Cuba are meticulously vetted for loyalty to the government, creating a work environment where dissent is stifled. Despite the substantial salaries received by Cuban workers in Canada, the bulk of their earnings is siphoned off, leaving them with minimal disposable income for sustenance.
The Cuban government’s stringent control extends to personal relationships, movements, and access to outside information for workers stationed in joint ventures with Sherritt. Workers are discouraged from forming bonds with Canadian colleagues and face restrictions on leaving designated areas without authorization.
While some Canadian employees may be aware of the wage confiscation faced by their Cuban counterparts, the workers emphasize that Sherritt is not complicit in the scheme. The Cuban government dictates the process of remitting earnings, underscoring the workers’ lack of autonomy in financial matters.
Sherritt has denied any involvement in wage confiscation and reaffirmed compliance with Canadian and local laws. Despite efforts to address employer abuses, the workers stress the need for more robust mechanisms to address grievances in situations where employees fear reprisals.
The workers call for increased government oversight to safeguard the rights of foreign workers in Canada, highlighting the challenges faced by Cuban workers in joint ventures. However, the federal government’s response indicates a need for further action to address the systemic issues raised by the workers.