The government of Cuba is compelling Cuban workers employed in Canada to send a significant portion of their earnings to Cuba, as disclosed by two former employees who conversed with CBC News. These workers are also required to participate in “political-ideological workshops,” report on interactions with Canadian colleagues, face restrictions on their movements, and have their personal relationships outside of work monitored by the Cuban Communist Party.
Incidents of wage confiscation by the Cuban government have been previously reported in various countries, including Brazil, where Cuban doctors initiated legal action resulting in a Brazilian judge condemning 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 Cuba’s state nickel company and Canada’s Sherritt International for three decades. Additionally, around four Cuban workers are stationed at another joint venture in Nassau, Bahamas, which markets metals refined in Alberta. These employees, along with their Canadian counterparts, receive their salaries in Canadian dollars, but their wages are subject to confiscation by the Cuban government.
Former employees from both operations confirmed that wage confiscation has been a longstanding practice for Cuban workers deployed abroad. Despite Canadian officials asserting that all workers in the country are safeguarded by labor laws, the former workers express concerns that lodging complaints could place Cuban employees at significant risk.
The arrangement between Sherritt and the Cuban government, established 31 years ago, involves mining ore in Moa, Cuba, and transporting it to Alberta for refining. The identities of Cuban workers have been concealed by CBC News to shield their families in Cuba from potential repercussions.
Cuban researcher Maria Werlau has documented instances of wage confiscation by the Cuban government, particularly during medical missions in various countries, emphasizing that even though Cuban workers earn more abroad, their earnings are largely seized by the government. This practice has been denounced as a form of human trafficking and exploitation.
The Cuban Communist Party imposes strict controls over Cuban workers in joint ventures with Sherritt, including restrictions on forming relationships with Canadian colleagues, limitations on outside interactions, and restrictions on access to external information. The workers emphasize that the scheme of wage confiscation is orchestrated by the Cuban government and not Sherritt, with the Canadian company complying with all applicable laws and regulations.
Despite the challenges faced by Cuban workers, including financial struggles and limitations on personal freedom, they are deterred from speaking out due to fear of reprisals, including potential termination of their missions and forced return to Cuba. The federal government is urged to address the issues faced by Cuban workers in these joint ventures, as several have defected and sought asylum due to the harsh working conditions.
Efforts to investigate or take action concerning the treatment of Cuban workers in these joint ventures by the federal government have not been clearly outlined, leaving concerns unresolved within the workforce.
