I recently join this community and wanted to share my experience when I came to Canada as an International student in 2021 Q1.
I needed a part time job, started looking, was hard to find (covid was still there).
Found job at subway 600 meters from my place. The owner told me I have to do unpaid training of 1 week (around 40 hours), I asked why? He said because many leave after training.
I thought thats how it works here. Went 1st day, you won't believe what I saw, there is no soap/detergent for all utensils, only rinsing. Inspections were online on schedule, so the owner used to put it there. I remember owner told me about his new property he bought in New Market and how I should work hard to reach where he is at.
Same day eve, I went to a birthday party everyone told me I should not work for free, it is illegal. I called owner next day before shift. Discussed “this is what my friends told me”. He said ” but we agreed to that, and what if you leave after training”.
As I needed a job desperatly, I told him “hold my training pay for 2 months, if you think I will leave early, but pay me the hours”.
He literally sweared words and hanged up the phone.
*Settled for uber eats on a bicycle of friend for few months.
*This subway was on major intersection.
* Made few more friends later and found that they did unpaid training at different fast food chains and different locations, one did for 3 weeks unpaid.
I did less hours in uber eats and earned same, putted hours on studies and currently have offer for my 3rd internship at big tech.