Hotel workers in Canada ‘to return in May’

A group of at least 18 Barbadians who were laid off while on a Government-sponsored labour scheme in Canada will be home before the end of May, Minister of Labour Colin Jordan has promised.

But the future of another contingent in the early stages of their contracts is now uncertain as officials await word on the possible reopening of Canada’s tourism industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Jordan is adamant that all of the Government’s resources in Canada have been activated to ensure the workers remain comfortable and safe while awaiting further instruction.

He was responding to concerns raised by an employee stationed at The JW Marriott The Rosseau in Minett, about 230 kilometres north of Toronto, In a Barbados TODAY interview, the worker complained that authorities were not forthcoming about the group’s legal status in Canada, their living arrangements, and their overall wellbeing.

But the Labour Minister assured that the group of housekeepers, stewards, cooks, and bellmen are to return home sometime in May.

Jordan told Barbados TODAY: “We are working through our diplomats in Canada just to finalize the dates for repatriation. [The workers’] visas go until the end of May, so those conversations are taking place…and we are just working through a matter of dates for repatriation of workers.

“They are going to be back here for sure by the end of the month. Right now they are being taken care of. They are not working, but they are still enjoying some benefits and given the disruption in airline travel, it was not a straightforward matter of telling our workers to pack their bags, go to the airport and get on the next flight.”

Jordan also suggested that the complaints expressed earlier this week did not represent the feelings of the entire group. Since then, at least one worker contacted Barbados TODAY to distance himself from the earlier complaints.

The Labour Minister acknowledged that the status of another contingent of hospitality workers who left Barbados for Canada in February is not as straightforward. This is because the workers will be under contract for at least another nine months.

But final determination will be made after extensive discussions involving Barbados’ liaison officials in Canada, who are still in discussions with the country’s authorities and the Canadian employers, he said. And according to the Minister, the final decision will hinge on the country’s ability to restart its tourism sector.

He explained: “The hotel sector, like most other businesses, wants to reopen, but they are waiting for guidance from their government as to what will happen. But Canada is a big place which does not only rely on visitors from outside of Canada and therefore potential visitors can drive.

“So there is still a bit of ‘wait and see’ to determine what will happen with the industry itself and what kind of target dates will exist for reopening and if our workers may need to come home and then return. That is still in discussion, but in the meantime, they are being taken care of probably in a way they haven’t before.

“All of our resources in Canada are looking out including the liaisons, the Consul General to Toronto as well as the High Commissioner to Toronto. High Commissioner [Reginald] Farley is taking a very hands-on approach to dealing with the matter and once we can get a final word from that hotel, then our workers will either move or stay based on those discussions and our discussions with them.

kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb