Story in a local Kelowna paper about a German family on a work visa having his contract altered into a new contract with worse conditions

Not sure if the mods will allow the link to the story, but shoudl be in everyones interest to hear both good and bad experiences IMO

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_.../15711597.html

I have heard a couple of stories like this now. It seems to be happening mainly in the construction trade. What we don't hear is the names of the companies that are doing this. Is it not about time they were named and shamed? If people were fore -warned it may save a lot of heartache ( and money)

What a very strange thing to say. You cannot post entire articles and as long as the link is not to an X rated site, there would be problem. The immigration forums were set up for a two sided point of view.

Rete

Thank you for bringing that to our attention. I pity the family going through such a miserable experience.

You never hear the full story.

Maybe what this guy considers 'slavery', may be some other guys normal working week, with reguards to hours and workload.

If that was me, and I WANTED a new life in that country, I think I would have sucked it up, worked until I got my PR, then told my boss were to stick it. Simple

My OH worked for that company and the german family speaketh the truth. Sometimes sucking it up just aint possible. So not that simple.

I feel for the family. However, this isn't unusual for Kelowna. Strange employment practices, shall we say. I do try to give people the heads-up but their heads are so full of sweet pink candy floss they can't see the truth from a fairy tale. Stupid can't be taught anything.

To the dull rose tinted brigade: shut it til you have had to suck up a few times yourself, they you can talk the talk and walk the walk. Don't come on here protesting that this is just a one-off, because sitting there in your isolated McMansions, you know nothing. Half of you haven't even lived a full year in BC and already, you know it all. Goggle eyed muppets.

R.

Hi All I know what Doris and her family is going thru, same thing is happening to me and my family and I am really trying to suck it up.
Been in Ontario for 3yrs, WP was up for renewal in Nov 07 , declined by HRDC on the grounds that my hubby's Employer wasn't paying the National Average rate which they say is $25 ph,for his Trade (Joiner),but you go on to their job site and there is all the vacancies for Joiners and wages starting from $9 ph but they are telling us that my hubby can't accept a job for less that $25 just dont understand how they can do that. So now his employer who didn't know that there was a Average rate has had to re-advertise the job and we had to re-apply for new LMO, it's now been 3 months and we are still waiting for a decision to be made ,so we are both out of work, kids are out of School,wondering what to do next so if any one can give some advice as on what to do would be extremely grateful Sooze

Is this just 'the way things are'? With skilled immigrants and Canadian employees out there or just the newcomers?

Terrible shame that anyone has to go through that, surely someone should be there to help or it seems to me that the system is open to abuse in exactly the way that the German family describes.

Any employer can lay-off any employee at any time if they do not have enough work. Any employer can dismiss any employee at any time for just cause. There is some protection for en employee if the employer dismisses them without just cause - but it's not much.

Yes, this is just the ways things are, for all employees - Canadian citizens and foreign workers. It is not just BC - it is more or less the same across North America.

That is why the Wiki article on Networking states:
However, I grant you this is of small consolation to the person who recently has come to Canada on a temporary work permit that ties him/her to a single employer and who now has been laid off.
x

Well said Judy,always keep your options open.Better choosing your exit than getting thrown through the door.

boy did this thread touch on a raw nerve with me, i have nothing but sympathy for the german family from the link.

i'll explain, my husband is a finishing carpenter and we arrived here in kelowna summer '05 on a 2 yr work permit. his employer had no work for the first month of our arrival which was a worrying start to say the least. my husband would turn up at work (usually only given one or two days' a week!) and the employer would tell him to do things like clean his garage and garden etc... while he slept on his sofa!!! he basically took advantage of us knowing that we were 'stuck' with him. we decided enough was enough and my husband left as no way was he going to be treated like a slave.

we were 'lucky' enough to be able to live on savings whilst our pr paperwork went through (took 5 months). the bc pnp office informed us that should we want to get another work permit it would take 20+ weeks for a new employer to be 'checked out'!!! what a nightmare and a horrible start to our new life in canada.

although this was a wobbly start we are now settled and happy having bought a home and my husband is now very happily self-employed :-)

Doesn't the LMO specify certain conditions such as wage / salary, number of working hours per day and week, benefits etc. to avoid situations like this?

I know that it can't stop you being laid off, but can't it mitigate undesirable changes to contract such as reduced wages, or increased working hours.