The Cuban government is compelling Cuban workers in Canada to remit a significant portion of their earnings from their Canadian jobs back to Cuba, as disclosed by two former workers who conversed with CBC News. These workers also mentioned that the Cuban Communist Party requires them to participate in “political-ideological workshops,” provide updates on interactions with Canadian colleagues, restrict their movements, and oversee their relationships beyond work.
Similar incidents of wage confiscation by the Cuban government have been reported in other nations, such as Brazil, where Cuban doctors pursued legal action resulting in a Brazilian judge equating the practice to “slave labor.” In Canada, approximately six Cuban professionals are employed at a cobalt and nickel refinery established as a partnership between Cuba’s state nickel company and Canada’s Sherritt International in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. Some other Cuban workers are engaged in another Sherritt-Cuba Niquel joint venture in Nassau, Bahamas. These workers, paid in Canadian dollars and working alongside Canadian counterparts, also experience wage confiscation.
Former employees from both operations told CBC News that the practice of wage confiscation for Cubans sent abroad has been customary for several years. Despite Canadian government assurances of protection under labor laws for all workers in the country, the former workers expressed concerns about the risks Cuban employees face in filing complaints.
The partnership between Sherritt and the Cuban government, established over 31 years ago, involves mining ore in Moa, Cuba, shipping it to Alberta for refining, and marketing the metals through a joint venture in the Bahamas. To shield family members in Cuba from potential repercussions, CBC News has opted to withhold the identities of the Cuban workers.
Researcher Maria Werlau has documented instances of wage confiscation by the Cuban government, particularly during medical missions in various countries, in a report for the NGO Cuba Archive. She and the former employees emphasize that while Cubans fortunate enough to secure jobs in democratic nations like Canada earn more than they would in Cuba, their freedoms are severely constrained.
The Cuban workers employed by Sherritt outside Cuba are scrutinized for their allegiance to the government, with job opportunities in the Canadian operations highly sought after due to the comparatively higher pay. Loyalty tests, stringent controls over movements and relationships, and limitations on accessing external information are enforced on these workers by the Cuban Communist Party.
The workers shared their challenges of making ends meet despite substantial salaries due to the Cuban government’s confiscation policies. They recounted struggling financially, resorting to bargain-hunting for essentials and even relying on food banks to survive. The fear of reprisals and being sent back to Cuba serves as a deterrent for workers to voice their grievances.
Despite the workers’ acknowledgment that some Canadian employees may be aware of the wage confiscation, they clarified that Sherritt was not involved in the scheme. Sherritt’s corporate affairs director emphasized the company’s adherence to all applicable laws and disavowed any involvement in wage confiscation.
The workers stress the importance of raising awareness about their plight and urge for governmental intervention to address the ongoing challenges faced by Cuban workers in the joint ventures.