Halt Temp Miner Permits While Recruiting Is Investigated: BCFed

The British Columbia Federation of Labour is expected Monday to demand the provincial government suspend Temporary Worker Program permits for certain mining projects in B.C. until an investigation into the practices of recruiters claiming to be hiring Chinese coal miners to work in Canada is completed.

The government investigation comes after a Tyee article revealed a B.C.-based company has been attempting to charge miners $12,500 CAD to arrange for jobs in coal mines, a practice the government said goes against the Employment Standards Act.

The Tyee learned of the fees after posing as a Chinese miner and answering ads posted by a company called Canada CIBS Investment and Trade Inc. on a Mainland China website similar to Craigslist.

During a conversation on QQ, a Chinese version of MSN messenger, an agent said a $4,700 CAD fee up front was required followed by an additional $7,900 CAD to be paid over 20 months after arrival in Canada.

After the online interview, The Tyee called the company's administrative office in Chengdu and was put in touch with a second recruiter who confirmed the fees.

'Grave concerns about entire program': BCFed's Sinclair

Jim Sinclair of the B.C. Federation of Labour said in light of the report the government should suspend Temporary Foreign Worker program permits for mining projects in B.C. until the investigation finishes.

"There are grave concerns about this entire program," said Sinclair.

"Investigations are showing that people are paying money to come here -- which is illegal under the program -- and if those allegations are true, it's part of what that program is not supposed to do."

Sinclair alleged abuse of the program is being allowed as part of an assault from the federal government to drive down wages.

"It looks more and more to me every day like this company never had any intentions of hiring Canadian workers to do the jobs in Canada," he said.

"The program itself was there and they took for granted that they would get it because the Conservative government is handing out these permits like candy."

But the companies that are bringing in the Chinese workers have said they are not using the recruitment companies.

Liu Naishun, the founder of Canadian Dehua International Mines said he'd never heard of the recruitment company and Jody Shimkus from HD Mining International said her company considered the practice "unspeakable."

Disagreement over worker shortage, pay rates

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is in place to bring in workers if there is a shortage of Canadians for certain jobs, and last week the United Steelworkers union complained after it found advertisements for miners requested the ability to speak Mandarin.

Sunday the Province newspaper quoted Shimkus saying close to 100 Canadians were interviewed for positions in the mines, but none were qualified.

Liu insisted Canada does not have the expertise for underground coal mining.

Sinclair said the use of the foreign workers is just a ruse to bring in Chinese miners who work for cheaper wages.

The average miner in B.C. earns about $34 an hour, but according to mining companies the Chinese miners will earn around $28 an hour.

The recruiter the Tyee spoke with said the jobs range from $22 to $25 dollars per hour.

In an email on Friday a spokesperson from the B.C. Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, Skills and Training said the Employment Standards Act forbids charging people for immigration assistance as a condition of the job.

The spokesperson also said it is illegal to charge a person to find a job or provide information about employment.

An investigation is now underway and the ministry said a breach of the Employment Standards Act could result in a $10,000 fine.