Three Filipino employees of a Dartmouth, N.S., construction firm say they’re overwhelmed with gratitude after being issued new work permits from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
“This morning’s the only time that I was not annoyed with my alarm clock because I was so excited to go back to work,” said Raddy Adams Manicadao, one of the three men who have been employed with Brycon Construction since 2022.
Adams Manicadao, Jafferson Palabasan and Rene Logrinio had been ordered off the job and told they might have to leave Canada after their extensions were rejected in August because their employer forgot to submit parts of their applications.
In two cases, the company did not pay a $230 employer fee. In the third, it neglected to submit a labour market impact assessment.
The men were left with the option to either apply again from scratch or depart the country in 90 days. All three reapplied immediately but were told they would have to wait six months for their new applications to be processed. During that time, they were not allowed to work, and their provincial health cards were made invalid.
Their boss, Dave Hiscock, appealed to politicians for weeks to no avail. When their story aired on CBC News last week, the company heard from people across the country who were sympathetic to the men’s plight.
On Sunday morning, three new work permits arrived in Hiscock’s inbox.
“I’m glad we made a little extra noise because I don’t think with past experience that it would’ve expedited the process,” said Hiscock. “I think the right person read it and thought it was wrong.”
He called his three employees right away to tell them they were expected to report to work on Monday morning.
“They were very surprised. They thought I was joking at first. I could just imagine the smiles on their faces. They were very, very happy.”
Palabasan said he was elated to get Hiscock’s phone call.
“I jumped,” he said. “I’m so thankful to the Department of Immigration.”
Logrinio said it was difficult to wait while they were in limbo but he remained hopeful.
“I’m excited to give my best and continue providing for my family back home,” said Logrinio, who sends money back to the Philippines to support his wife and three daughters.
The men reported for duty Monday morning. Hiscock said he’s thrilled to have three valuable employees back on the job, as the company begins work on the Highway 103 twinning project between Hubbards and Chester.
All three men have applied to become permanent residents and hope to bring their families to Halifax.
