A Moose Jaw restaurant has pleaded guilty after a provincial investigation found it required a foreign worker to pay to keep their job, the Saskatchewan government says.
Provincial court records show Dyan Jeny Enterprises, which operates the local Guac Mexi Grill, was convicted for charging a fee to an employee between August 2023 and February 2024. The business has been ordered to return $12,000 to the worker and pay an additional $7,000 in fines.
First conviction under foreign worker protection rules
The government called the case the first conviction under the province’s foreign worker protection legislation. The complaint was received by Saskatchewan’s immigration and career training branch, which launched the investigation.
That legislation was replaced and strengthened in July 2024, not long after the offences occurred. Penalties in the revised act increased substantially; fines that once maxed out at $100,000 can now reach $1.25 million for serious violations.
Guac Mexi Grill is a Tex‑Mex fast‑casual chain headquartered in Ontario with roughly 56 locations across Canada, including the Moose Jaw restaurant named in court documents. The Canadian Press contacted the chain’s corporate office and the defendants’ lawyer but had not received a response.
The province’s statement said the worker’s continued employment was made a condition while they pursued permanent resident status. That practice — requiring a fee or payment from an employee for the right to work — is prohibited under the protections for foreign workers.
Provincial authorities did not provide further details about the worker’s nationality, role at the restaurant or the mechanism by which the payments were collected. Court documents confirm the timeline of payments stretching from August 2023 to February 2024.
- Restitution to worker: $12,000
- Additional fines ordered: $7,000
- When offences occurred: August 2023–February 2024
- Legislative update: July 2024 — increased maximum penalties to $1.25 million
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Restitution to worker | $12,000 |
| Fine imposed on business | $7,000 |
| Previous maximum penalty (former act) | $100,000 |
| Current maximum penalty (since July 2024) | $1,250,000 |
Advocates for temporary foreign workers say this case highlights the vulnerabilities some employees face when immigration status and employment are linked. Requiring payment in exchange for work can trap people in exploitative arrangements and complicate their ability to seek redress.
Local labour and immigration authorities encourage workers who feel pressured to pay fees or who experience other forms of coercion to report the matter. Complaints can trigger investigations similar to the one that led to this conviction.
For employers, the ruling serves as a reminder that provincial rules are enforced and that penalties for violations have increased. Businesses that rely on foreign labour should ensure their hiring and retention practices comply with both provincial and federal immigration and employment law.
This conviction is likely to draw attention from other jurisdictions that employ temporary or foreign workers, and from groups pushing for stronger oversight. The provincial update in 2024 demonstrates a legal shift toward tougher penalties for those found exploiting vulnerable workers.
The Moose Jaw restaurant remains one of dozens of Guac Mexi Grill locations across Canada. Provincial court action in Regina recorded the guilty plea and subsequent sentencing in the matter.
Anyone in Saskatchewan who believes they have been charged a fee in exchange for employment or who wants information about protection measures can contact the provincial immigration and career training branch to report a concern.
