The Cuban government is compelling Cuban employees working in Canada to remit a significant portion of their earnings to Cuba, as disclosed by two former workers interviewed by CBC News. These workers also revealed that the Cuban Communist Party enforces attendance at political-ideological sessions, monitors interactions with Canadian colleagues, restricts movement, and oversees personal relationships beyond work duties.
Similar incidents of wage confiscation by the Cuban government have been reported in various countries, such as Brazil, where Cuban doctors took legal action resulting in a Brazilian judge denouncing 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 joint venture between Cuba’s state nickel company and Sherritt International. Additionally, four Cuban workers are engaged in another Sherritt-Cuba Niquel joint venture in Nassau, Bahamas. Despite being paid in Canadian dollars and working alongside Canadian counterparts, Cuban employees in these ventures also face wage confiscation, according to the former workers.
The former employees emphasized that Cuban workers sent abroad have long been subjected to wage confiscation. While Canadian labor laws protect all workers in the country, lodging complaints poses a significant risk for Cuban employees due to potential repercussions from their home country.
For over 30 years, Sherritt has collaborated with the Cuban government, with ore extracted in Cuba and processed in Alberta. To safeguard their families in Cuba from potential backlash, CBC News has chosen to shield the identities of the Cuban workers. Cuban researcher Maria Werlau has documented instances of wage confiscation by the Cuban government, especially during medical missions in various countries.
The Cuban workers in Sherritt’s operations outside Cuba are carefully selected for their allegiance to the government. These professionals, including the CEO of the operation, receive higher salaries than attainable in Cuba. However, upon arrival in Canada or the Bahamas, they are informed that a significant portion of their earnings must be remitted to Cuba, leaving them with meager amounts for personal expenditure.
The former workers recounted their financial struggles, resorting to budget shopping and food banks to make ends meet. They highlighted the fear of reprisals and the strict control imposed by the Cuban government on their personal and professional lives while working abroad. Despite the challenges, reprisals against dissent have reportedly become less predictable as the Cuban Communist Party’s influence wanes.
The workers affirmed that Sherritt was not complicit in the wage confiscation scheme, attributing it solely to the Cuban government. While acknowledging the financial difficulties faced by the Cuban workers, Sherritt reiterated its compliance with Canadian and local laws, emphasizing its commitment to employee welfare.
Efforts to address potential abuses are contingent on formal complaints, yet the workers expressed concerns about the lack of mechanisms to address grievances discreetly. Although several Cuban workers have defected from their positions at the refinery, successful asylum claims have been made. While no formal complaints have been lodged with the Alberta Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade, and Immigration, the federal government is urged to address the plight of Cuban workers in these joint ventures.