Multinational corporation lays off a hundred immigrants, forcing them to return to their home countries.
In a sudden turn of events that threatens to disrupt his life, Juan Manuel Holguín, a Mexican truck driver at Newrest, finds himself jobless and potentially forced to return to his home country. Holguín had held a three-year contract with Newrest, which prepared meals for airline carriers.
Holguín, along with his family, had invested a considerable amount of effort to improve their son's life, who has autism. They managed to secure a place in a daycare with a specialized intervenor in July, after a two-year search. However, with the loss of his job, they may lose all the help they have managed to get for their son, as such services do not exist in Mexico.
Holguín had a good job in Mexico before losing it during the pandemic and moved to Canada in search of a better life for his family. He perceives himself and other immigrants as hardworking people who are necessary for the job market.
Newrest is laying off 544 employees due to Air Canada breaking its business ties with the multinational to turn to GateGroup. Among the affected are over a hundred temporary foreign workers, including Holguín. The laid-off workers understand that they will receive payment for hours worked, a departure indemnity, and the cost of their return flight.
However, the laid-off workers may not be able to extend their status or be rehired elsewhere in Quebec due to their tied permits. This predicament has left Holguín feeling powerless about the situation.
The French multinational Newrest is under scrutiny, as it is the target of a class action lawsuit for alleged practices of exploiting migrant workers. The CSN union has proposed measures such as demanding the reinstatement of the dismissed migrant workers at GateGroup, urging fair compensation, and calling for improved labor protections and working conditions.
Serge Monette, president of the CSN's Commerce Federation, has criticized Newrest for seemingly abandoning migrant workers to their fate. Holguín had asked Newrest to start the process of renewing his work permit, but was told to wait.
Holguín is aware of the negative sentiment towards immigrants and the tightening of rules. Despite this, he continues to advocate for the rights of hardworking immigrants like himself, who contribute significantly to the job market.
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