The Cuban government is compelling Cuban workers employed in Canada to remit a significant portion of their earnings back to Cuba, as disclosed by two former employees who conversed with CBC News. These workers also revealed that the Cuban Communist Party imposes attendance at “political-ideological workshops” and mandates reporting on interactions with Canadian counterparts, as well as monitoring their movements and personal relationships outside of work.
Similar instances of wage confiscation by the Cuban government have been reported in various countries, such as Brazil, where Cuban doctors took legal action resulting in a Brazilian judge denouncing the practice as akin to “slave labor.” In Canada, approximately six Cuban professionals are engaged in the cobalt and nickel refinery, a joint enterprise between Cuba’s state nickel company and Sherritt International in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. Additionally, around four Cuban workers are employed at another Sherritt-Cuba Niquel joint venture in Nassau, Bahamas, where they work alongside Canadian colleagues, receive payment in Canadian currency, and have their salaries subjected to confiscation.
Former employees from both operations confirmed that the practice of wage confiscation for Cubans sent abroad has been standard for many years. While Canadian officials stated that all workers are safeguarded by Canadian labor laws, they rely on complaints for accountability, a risky proposition for Cuban employees.
The partnership between Sherritt and the Cuban government, established over 31 years ago, involves mining ore in Moa, Cuba, and processing it in Alberta, where cobalt and nickel are refined. To protect the identities of the Cuban workers and their families in Cuba, CBC News has agreed to conceal their names.
Cuban researcher Maria Werlau has extensively documented cases of wage confiscation by the Cuban government, particularly during medical missions in Brazil, Jamaica, and the Middle East. She and the former employees emphasized that although Cuban workers abroad earn more than they would in Cuba, they face severe restrictions and control imposed by the government.
The Cuban workers stressed the challenges they face in sustaining themselves, resorting to budget shopping and even food banks to make ends meet. They spoke of the fear instilled by the Cuban government, which deters them from voicing complaints or expressing dissent.
While the Cuban workers acknowledged that some Canadian colleagues were aware of the wage confiscation, they asserted that Sherritt was not complicit in the scheme, attributing it solely to the Cuban government. Sherritt’s corporate affairs director refuted any involvement in wage confiscation and affirmed compliance with all applicable laws.
Efforts to curb abuse in the workplace rely heavily on complaints, leaving workers vulnerable when they fear reprisals. Despite the challenges faced by Cuban workers in the joint ventures, government entities have not indicated plans for further investigation or action, leaving the workers in a precarious situation.
