The Bureau de l’inspecteur général de Montréal (BIG) announced Wednesday that an investigation has uncovered extensive hiring of unlicensed subcontractors who employed undocumented workers using false identities in the city’s waste‑collection operations. The probe, conducted in 2026, revealed that these illegal labor practices are widespread across the sector.
BIG’s inquiry focused on the network of subcontractors that handle garbage collection for the municipality. Inspectors found that many of these firms operate without the required licences and rely on workers who lack legal status and proper documentation. The use of false identities was documented, indicating an effort to conceal the illegal employment.
The bureau highlighted that the absence of legal protections for these workers leaves them particularly vulnerable to workplace injuries. Without official contracts, safety training, or insurance coverage, the undocumented labor force faces heightened risk while performing physically demanding tasks associated with waste collection.
The findings arrive amid ongoing criticism of Montreal’s waste‑collection industry, which has been accused of employing staff without appropriate legal status or safety safeguards. Advocacy groups and labour organisations have previously raised concerns that the sector’s employment practices expose workers to unsafe conditions and undermine labour standards.
BIG’s report calls attention to the need for stricter oversight of subcontracting arrangements within the city’s sanitation services. While the investigation did not disclose specific enforcement actions, the bureau’s disclosure signals that authorities are aware of the problem and may pursue measures to ensure compliance with licensing and labour regulations.
The revelation adds pressure on municipal officials to address the systemic issues that have allowed illegal labor to proliferate in waste collection. It also underscores the broader challenge of safeguarding vulnerable workers in industries that rely heavily on subcontracted labour.
The bureau plans to continue monitoring the sector and to work with relevant agencies to enforce legal standards and improve worker safety across Montreal’s waste‑management operations.