Brazilian says he was deported after blowing whistle on Winnipegger who illegally hired foreign workers

A Brazilian man named Ighor Santos has come forward with a troubling account of being misled into working illegally in Winnipeg. Santos, 27, claims he was promised a work permit by a recruiter in exchange for working on a construction site in the city’s Leila North neighborhood. However, after nearly five months of working illegally, Santos decided to blow the whistle on the recruiter, only to face consequences himself.

In March 2023, Santos arrived in Canada and began working at the construction site. It wasn’t until later that year that he and his family reached out to authorities with concerns about the illegal employment situation. Santos attempted to rectify the situation by applying for a valid work permit through another company on May 31, 2024. However, after a lengthy interview with Canada Border Services Agency officials, he was ordered to leave the country for breaking the law.

Santos expressed his disappointment, stating that he had tried to do the right thing and prevent such a situation from happening to him. He felt let down by the system, as the individuals responsible for his predicament remained unaffected.

The recruiter in question, Gurwinder Singh Ahluwalia, pleaded guilty to unauthorized employment of foreign nationals and was sentenced to 20 months of house arrest and a $50,000 fine. Court proceedings revealed that at least 14 foreign nationals were illegally employed on the construction site managed by Ahluwalia.

The investigation into Ahluwalia’s actions began in August 2023, after the Canada Border Services Agency received information about the mistreatment of unauthorized workers. Santos, the whistleblower, had contacted border services after realizing he had been misled into working illegally.

Santos explained that he had been in his final year of school in Ireland when he contacted Ahluwalia about working in Canada. Despite initially intending to wait until after his exams to travel, Ahluwalia insisted that he come immediately due to the urgent need for workers. Santos expected to obtain a work permit through a proper process but was pressured by Ahluwalia to start working right away.

As Santos and his fellow workers endured poor conditions, low wages, and missed payments, they began to realize the extent of their exploitation. Despite initially being promised $32 an hour, Santos’ wages were reduced to $15 an hour upon arrival. He only received a raise to $18 an hour after complaining to Ahluwalia. Additionally, workers were subjected to verbal abuse, late payments, and unsafe working conditions.

Santos highlighted the difficult position he and his colleagues were in, as they were unfamiliar with Canadian laws and lacked the protection afforded to legal workers. He emphasized that no one enjoyed working illegally and that they were all vulnerable to exploitation.

Ahluwalia’s defense claimed that hiring unauthorized workers was the only option to prevent financial ruin for the construction project. However, the judge emphasized the vulnerability of the workers and the need for accountability and remorse from Ahluwalia.

Santos expressed his disappointment and betrayal, stating that he had returned to Winnipeg with the hope of reliving positive memories but instead found himself in a precarious situation. He urged for better protections for vulnerable workers and hoped that his story would shed light on the exploitation faced by many foreign nationals in similar positions.

As of now, no other individuals are facing charges related to the case. Santos’ experience serves as a cautionary tale about the risks and consequences of working illegally and the importance of upholding labor laws to protect vulnerable workers.