The French multinational of air catering, which has been talked about for its presumed participation in an illicit system of recruitment of migrant workers, is preparing to set up nearly 550 workers in Montreal.
The management of Newrest Corporation did not answer our calls. But, according to information from documents from the Quebec Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity (MESS), Newrest Montreal Corporation has chosen to permanently close its facilities on boulevard Hymus, in Dorval.
In fact, the Mess reports having received a notice of dismissal from the Toulouse company on July 16, with a view to massive launching scheduled by the end of October. According to Newrest, up to 544 workers from the meal preparation company for the air industry should lose their livelihood.
Newcrest premises, on Boulevard Hymus, in Dorval
Photo Martin JOLICOEUR
“It’s a shame. We will all have to find another job. But it’s life. We have no choice, ”said, resigned to Journal One of the French employees met on Wednesday, near the factory. Like his colleagues, he has no illusions about his chances of keeping his job.
These layoffs arise as Canada has made the decision to change the food partner. From 1is January, the carrier will do business with Gategroup (formerly Gate Gourmet), a Swiss company.
False promises
But above all, they occur a few weeks after the Superior Court of Quebec had authorized, in May, a collective action against the Conglomerate Newrest Holding SA and a Kyrielle of Personal Placement Agencies from the Great Region of Montreal.
Photo Martin JOLICOEUR
In this case, the Immigrant Workers’ Center (CTTI) alleged that hundreds of migrant workers had been victims of an illicit system set up by the latter. Thus, migrants recruited abroad were encouraged to work for Newrest against the false promise to obtain a valid work permit in Canada.
A few weeks ago, the CTTI and Newrest concluded, without any admission, a payment agreement of $ 2.3 million. The Superior Court will hold a hearing on August 26 to determine whether the regulations should be approved.
Is Air Canada’s decision to change the food supplier linked to this case? The management has been evasive, supporting regularly putting its service providers in competition to ensure that they benefit from the best value for money.
“It is therefore a normal procedure, and we do not how to choose the criteria for choosing a service provider in relation to another,” replied his communication vice-president, Christophe Hennebelle.
Photo Martin JOLICOEUR
Met on site, on Boulevard Hymus, in Dorval, the director general of Newrest installations in Montreal, Nicola Monaco, declined our interview request. However, he said that, despite the hundreds of launch to come, Newrest would continue to serve its other remaining customers in Montreal. Among them: Air France and KLM.
Clement Chediny, a big boss of Newrest for Canada, also refused to answer our questions, heading to the company’s headquarters in Toulouse. Wednesday at the end of the day, The newspaper still awaited responses from France.
Newrest is the property of the businessman Olivier Sadran, former president of Toulouse FC (for Football Club) between 2001 and 2020. Newrest would now have 60,000 employees in 54 countries. The company made in 2024 sales of $ 4 billion.
-With the collaboration of Sylvain Larocque.
