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Two years later, abused Khaira forestry workers still waiting for redress

Two summers ago, BC residents were shocked to learn of a forestry bush camp in Golden where African immigrant workers, employed by Khaira Enterprises Ltd, a provincial government contractor, had been subjected to racist taunts, management violence, inadequate shelter, bad food and bounced paycheques.

Now, two years later, the British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre (BCPIAC), which has been championing the workers' cause since the shocking revelations surfaced in 2010, has issued a statement marking the second anniversary of the camp's closure and reminding the public that the workers have still not been fully compensated for their ordeal.

According to the release:

"BC's Employment Standards Branch (ESB) recently released six additional determinations that Khaira violated the Employment Standards Act, awarding $18,398.53 in wages and an additional $500.00 in administrative penalties. Previously, the Employment Standard Tribunal upheld the February 4, 2011 decision of the ESB, ordering Khaira to pay $241,704.77 in unpaid wages, bringing the total awards against Khaira to over $260,000.

By late 2011, the ESB had paid many of the workers about half the wages that they are owed by Khaira, using Khaira bid deposits held by the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Mines from 2010. However, Khaira and its directors Khalid Bajwa and Hardilpreet Sidhu have not paid a penny of the outstanding amounts owing."

BC Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair called for immediate government action to provide the Khaira workers with the back pay and other compensation owed them. He noted that despite two years of investigation of the matter by the federal government, many of the workers had still not received the Employment Insurance due them for their work with the ill-fated tree planting and brush clearing company.

"It is totally unacceptable that any government contractor use public funds to profit while abusing their employees," Sinclair said in the statement. "Together, federal and provincial agencies have a duty to make these workers whole, and to hold Khaira and its directors personally financially responsible."

"Given the rejection of their previous appeals, we expect that Khaira will not appeal these decisions and finally pay the workers the money they earned," said Eugene Kung, staff lawyer with BCPIAC and counsel to about 30 former Khaira workers. "This disregard for the law and a total indifference towards the employees who worked so hard and endured such deplorable living conditions is unacceptable."

Tom Sandborn covers labour and health policy beats for the Tyee. He welcomes feedback and story tips at [email protected]


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