Ontario lawmakers are finalizing the Working for Workers Act, 2023, which would impose the highest fines in Canada on business owners who withhold the passports of their temporary foreign workers. Proposed penalties for withholding a foreign national’s passport or work permit range from $100,000 to $200,000 for every worker whose rights are violated. Individuals found guilty of violating the proposed law may face a fine of up to $500,000, up to one year in prison, or both. In addition, corporations that are convicted may be fined up to $1 million.
