Three workers from the Philippines employed by a construction company in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, expressed immense gratitude upon receiving new work permits from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Raddy Adams Manicadao, one of the workers who has been with Brycon Construction since 2022, shared his excitement about returning to work. The trio, including Jafferson Palabasan and Rene Logrinio, faced the possibility of leaving Canada after their work permit extensions were denied in August due to incomplete applications submitted by their employer.
The company failed to pay the employer fee for two applications and omitted a labor market impact assessment for the third. The men were given the choice to reapply or leave the country within 90 days. Despite reapplying immediately, they were informed that it would take six months for their applications to be processed. This period meant they could not work, and their provincial health coverage was suspended.
After unsuccessful appeals by their boss, Dave Hiscock, the situation gained attention when their story was broadcast on CBC News. The public response led to a positive outcome. On a Sunday morning, new work permits were issued, bringing relief to Hiscock and his employees. The men were surprised and elated to receive the news and eagerly returned to work on Monday.
Palabasan expressed his gratitude to Immigration, while Logrinio, who supports his family in the Philippines, was eager to resume providing for them. The workers have also applied for permanent residency and hope to reunite with their families in Halifax. The company, preparing for the Highway 103 twinning project, welcomed back its valuable employees.
The successful resolution of their work permit issue marks a turning point for these workers, enabling them to continue their contributions to the Canadian workforce and pursue their dreams of building a future for their families in Nova Scotia.
