GTA landscaping workers still waiting for back pay owed
A Vaughan-based company operating under multiple names has left former employees hanging despite Ministry of Labour orders to pay.
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Former employees of a Vaughan-based snow removal and landscaping company are still waiting for thousands of dollars in owed wages, months after a Ministry of Labour investigation determined what they are owed.
In January, workers of the company—operating under names including Snow Pros LTD and Grass Guys—reported they were owed back pay. The owner said he would sell assets to settle the claims. That still hasn't happened.
Luis Contreras received a notice from an Employment Standards Officer determining he is owed more than $4,000. Paul Edwards, another former worker, said his complaint was among 11 filed with the Ministry about the company. According to the order, owner Ryan Hunter failed to respond to numerous requests about the claims.
When CityNews reached out, Hunter called the workers' claims "isolated incidents" due to "unfortunate business problems" caused by clients not paying on time. He said current employees are getting paid and that "all wages owed are from January 5 and earlier." He said he plans to work with the Ministry to repay what is owed.
Former worker Omar Colindrez said the workers won't back down and called on the Ministry to step up enforcement. "It's not the first time he's been reported to the Ministry of Labour. It's been multiple times," he said.