Three Filipino Workers May Leave Canada After Work Permit Errors

Three employees from the Philippines may have to leave Canada after their work permit renewal applications were rejected due to administrative errors by their employer, Brycon Construction.

In two cases, the company failed to pay a $230 employer fee, while a third application lacked a required labour market impact assessment. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) informed the men that they must stop working immediately and either restart the application process or leave Canada within 90 days.

Employer Shocked by Harsh Penalty

Dave Hiscock, operations manager at Brycon Construction, described the situation as devastating. “It’s an awful penalty for whether a fee wasn’t paid or a piece of paper wasn’t put in. You’re uprooting three-plus lives,” he said. “These people have done nothing wrong while they’ve been in Canada. They paid their taxes. They’re good working staff.”

IRCC Response and Processing Times

IRCC stated that it is the responsibility of workers to ensure applications are complete. Those who believe a decision was made in error may appeal; otherwise, they must reapply. New applications take an average of 180 days, or six months, to process, during which applicants cannot work and their provincial health coverage is invalidated.

Impact on Workers and Families

The three men — Jafferson Palabasan, Raddy Adams Manicadao, and Rene Logrinio — arrived in Canada in 2022 and are key staff for Brycon’s Highway 103 twinning project between Hubbards and Chester. All have applied for permanent residency, hoping to bring their families to Halifax.

Palabasan expressed concern about his family’s future. “It’s a dream city to me. It’s a better future for my daughter. Seeing them struggling doubles the hardship I’m experiencing now,” he said. Logrinio supports his wife and three daughters back home, while Adams Manicadao can no longer afford his wife’s insulin for diabetes.

Growing Concern Among Immigration Experts

Immigration lawyer Elizabeth Wozniak said such situations are becoming more common. “Years ago, immigration officers could flag missing pieces of an application. Now, work permits are rejected outright. When it doesn’t work, the consequences are huge,” she said.

Hiring Challenges for Brycon Construction

Brycon Construction employs 18 international workers among a staff of 120. Hiscock said hiring local staff is extremely challenging, making it difficult to keep projects on schedule. He added that the company will now rely on immigration consultants to prevent similar mistakes.

“This will never happen again under my watch, never. Lesson learned,” Hiscock said.

Brycon Construction continues to seek solutions to support the affected employees, while the men consider reapplying for work permits under the six-month processing timeline.