Club Med temporary foreign workers in Charlevoix, Que., say they face discrimination

Mexican temporary foreign workers at Club Med Quebec Charlevoix say they earn less than their Canadian counterparts and feel pressured to work overtime.

With a shortage of local workers available, the Charlevoix resort — located about 350 kilometres northeast of Montreal — turned toward foreign workers, mostly from Mexico, to fill positions mainly in housekeeping, food service and the kitchen. 

According to information obtained by Radio-Canada, some Mexican employees who have worked at Club Med since it opened in 2021 aren't paid the same salaries as their Canadian colleagues. Some of those Canadian co-workers have noted the disparity, and say they find the pay difference deplorable.

Gwyn Boudreault, a New Brunswicker who used to work at Club Med, believes that it doesn't make sense that some of his Mexican colleagues earn $15.50 an hour, while his starting salary was about $20.

"I don't think it was fair. I don't understand the reason why, and I still to this day do not understand the reason why," he said. "Sure, they're immigrants, but they are also doing the same job that I am. Why aren't they getting paid the same?"

Radio-Canada spoke with two other Canadian employees who work in housekeeping who were also paid $20.50 per hour. As permitted by law, employees who live in accommodations provided by an employer have about $52 a week deducted from their wages.

Roxanne (not her real name, CBC/Radio-Canada has agreed to use a pseudonym to protect her identity due to her employment status) worked in housekeeping. She says was shocked to learn that some of her Mexican colleagues were earning $5 less per hour. She even asked to see one of their pay stubs as proof.

"I didn't think that was right," she said. "They work hard." 

Olivier Rozier, the vice-president of North American operations for Club Med, said that the nationality of employees does not affect their salary. Rather, it's the level of training, skills, qualifications and experience of each individual, that determines their pay, he explained.

Rozier added that Club Med is currently working with the union that represents the employees, the Teamsters, and an outside firm to clear up any issues and situations of wage discrimination.

The Teamsters confirmed that a pay equity grievance has been filed.

Roxanne and Gwyn Boudreault said they have never felt pressure to work overtime but have noticed that during certain busy or understaffed periods, some Mexican employees work six days a week to their five.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, more than 200 permits have been issued to foreign nationals to work at the Quebec Club Med since 2021.

One of the main reasons Ignacio (not his real name, CBC/Radio-Canada has agreed to use a pseudonym to protect his identity due to his employment status) accepted a position at Club Med was because he was attracted by the 40-hour, five-day schedule, that was indicated in his employment contract.