Foreign workers at Manitoba hotel are owed $138-K in unpaid wages and fees, labour board rules

The Manitoba Labour Board has ordered Western Star All Suites Hotel to pay nearly $138,000 in unpaid wages and administrative fees to three foreign workers after dismissing their appeals. The employees, who worked at the hotel in Melita at different times and lived there during their employment, were owed wages due to long working hours, irregular payments, inadequate employment records and poor working conditions.

The largest award was $85,520.98 in unpaid wages to one employee, plus a $1,000 administrative fee, totaling $86,520.98. The other two employees were awarded $22,119.53 and $15,775.28, respectively, including administrative fees. The board dismissed the employer's appeals and varied the original payment-of-wages orders issued in November 2024.

The investigation revealed that the workers worked up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week, and were not paid for all the hours they worked. They were also paid below the hourly rate in their labor market impact assessments and employment agreements.