Two Jamaican brothers, Garick and Ramesh Ramsook, are still waiting to receive more than $178,000 in stolen wages and damages from an Ontario construction company where they were hired as temporary foreign workers.
Their wait continues more than two months after the Ontario Labour Relations Board ordered Polat Construction to pay them.
The case highlights growing concerns about wage theft in Ontario, especially for migrant workers whose immigration status and work permits make them more vulnerable to exploitation.
Ontario Labour Board Ordered Company to Pay
The Ontario Labour Relations Board issued its decision on May 1, increasing the compensation owed to the Ramsook brothers.
The board found that Polat Construction had unlawfully fired the workers after they demanded their unpaid wages.
The ruling said the company violated anti-reprisal protections under Ontario labour law.
Polat Construction was ordered to pay the brothers a combined $178,000 by May 31, but the brothers say they still have not received the money.
Workers Came to Canada for a Better Opportunity
Garick and Ramesh arrived in Canada in July 2023 through the temporary foreign worker program.
They were hired by Ottawa-based Polat Construction on two-year contracts and closed work permits.
Their job was to build cabinets for residential and commercial renovation projects in Ottawa.
The brothers believed the work would allow them to earn money and send support back to their families in Jamaica.
Garick said the opportunity did not turn out the way they expected.
Closed Work Permits Created More Vulnerability
The brothers were working under closed work permits, meaning their immigration status was tied to Polat Construction.
Because of that, they could not legally work for another employer until the end of their two-year contract.
The Ontario Labour Relations Board considered this when deciding compensation.
The board found that after the brothers were dismissed, they were unable to easily replace the income they had lost.
As a result, the board awarded compensation for lost income, unpaid wages and damages for emotional pain and suffering.
Ministry Found Months of Unpaid Wages
Orders to pay issued by the Ministry of Labour in 2024 showed employment standards officers found that Polat Construction owed the two men about $26,000 each in unpaid wages.
Evidence reviewed by officers included time sheets, wage records and bank statements.
The records showed that over nearly six months of work, Garick and Ramesh were paid for only six weeks.
The brothers repeatedly asked their employer about the missing wages.
Employer Allegedly Threatened Work Permits
According to ministry findings, an audio recording reviewed by officers showed the employer saying he did not have enough money to pay the workers.
The employer also allegedly warned that he could cancel their work permits and lay them off.
Soon after, Garick and Ramesh were terminated in December 2023.
The experience left them homeless and struggling to find new work while trying to support loved ones and children in Jamaica.
Garick described the situation as devastating.
Ministry Found Reprisal Against Workers
The Ministry of Labour investigation found that Polat Construction gave conflicting explanations for the dismissals.
At first, the company reportedly blamed the layoffs on an industry downturn.
Later, it claimed the workers had failed to perform their duties and harmed the company’s interests.
The report concluded that the company retaliated against the brothers after they asked to be paid.
Company Did Not Respond to Requests for Comment
Polat Construction and its owner did not respond to multiple phone calls and emails from the Star requesting comment about the treatment of workers.
According to the company’s website, Polat Construction has previously worked on projects for federal, provincial and municipal governments.
Those projects reportedly included embassy renovations, ceiling tile replacements for Ottawa LRT stations, and a full renovation of assets for the National Capital Commission.
Wage Theft Recovery Remains a Major Problem
Recovering unpaid wages is supposed to be a key part of Ontario’s employment standards system.
The system is meant to ensure workers receive money they are legally owed after successful wage theft claims.
However, worker advocates say many people are increasingly unable to collect money even after winning claims.
Migrant workers often face even bigger barriers because of precarious immigration status and limited power to challenge employers.
Millions in Wages Remain Uncollected
Every year, Ontario workers file thousands of successful claims against employers that owe unpaid wages and benefits.
But legal experts say many orders to pay are not successfully enforced.
Government data shows that over the past decade, nearly $200 million in unpaid wages has been formally assessed as owed to workers.
When employers fail to comply with a Ministry of Labour order within 30 days, the case is referred to Ontario’s Ministry of Finance for collections.
Between 2013 and 2023, the Ministry of Finance recovered less than one-quarter of the $102.4 million sent for collection.
That left workers still owed $79.9 million in stolen wages.
Ontario Government Says It Has Zero Tolerance
In an emailed statement, Ontario’s ministries of Labour and Finance said the government has “zero tolerance for wage theft.”
The government said it is increasing enforcement through stronger penalties and expanded oversight.
Finance Ministry spokesperson Sarah Chapin said the province has doubled the maximum fine for individuals convicted under the Employment Standards Act from $50,000 to $100,000, which she described as the highest in Canada.
She also said administrative penalties for repeat offenders have increased from $1,000 to $5,000 per employee.
Another Jamaican Worker Still Waiting for Wages
The Ramsook brothers are not the only workers tied to Polat Construction who say they are still waiting for payment.
Alek Noel Thompson, another Jamaican worker hired by the company, is still waiting for more than $60,000 in stolen wages.
The Ministry of Labour ordered the company to pay him in 2024, but he has not yet received the money.
Advocates Say Migrant Workers Are at Higher Risk
Chris Ramsaroop, an activist with Justicia for Migrant Workers, said the Polat Construction case is not unusual.
He said vulnerable migrant workers often face serious barriers when trying to recover stolen wages.
Ramsaroop also pointed to a sharp decline in Labour Ministry inspections, penalties and prosecutions related to wage theft and other workplace violations.
A Star investigation found that proactive workplace inspections in Ontario fell from 2,800 in 2017 to 790 in 2022.
Expired Work Permits Make Claims Harder
Ramsaroop said migrant workers face additional risk because many leave Canada once their work permits expire.
Once they return home, they may be less likely to file claims with the ministry or continue pursuing unpaid wages.
Even when they do file successful claims, advocates say enforcement is often weak when it comes to actually collecting the money.
Ramsaroop said existing laws have been inadequate for the most vulnerable workers.
Brothers Say They Will Not Return to Canada
Because of what happened, Garick and Ramesh said they do not plan to return to Canada.
They also said they would not recommend that friends seek work in the country.
Garick said he believes the government should have done more to help them.
He said it felt as though they did not exist.
The case of Garick and Ramesh Ramsook shows how difficult it can be for migrant workers to recover unpaid wages, even after winning legal decisions. The Ontario Labour Relations Board ordered Polat Construction to pay the brothers more than $178,000 in wages and damages, but they say they still have not received the money.
Their experience also reflects wider concerns about wage theft enforcement in Ontario, where millions of dollars in unpaid wages remain uncollected.
Advocates argue that migrant workers on closed work permits are especially vulnerable because their ability to work, stay in Canada and challenge employers is tightly restricted.
For Garick and Ramesh, the promise of stable work in Canada became a devastating experience of unpaid labour, homelessness and lost trust.