A group of South African firefighters work to uproot a tree as they remove hot spots from a massive wildfire outside of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada June 2, 2016.
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While Notley said the dispute is between the firefighters and the South African government, she said she would be taking steps to intervene. Food, lodging and travel were also covered by the government.
“We wish to categorically state that the quoted amount of $21 per hour is incorrect and was never agreed to with anyone”, Working on Fire said, referring to the media reports.
“This was discussed with firefighters before their departure to Canada and everyone signed this agreement”, the organization said in a statement Thursday.
But on Thursday, Working on Fire, a South African government-funded organisation that trains firefighters, said a senior management team was on its way to Alberta assist with their demobilization and return home.
Rensburg though told News24 on Friday that their return is not yet set in stone.
The firefighters arrived in Canada last month, singing and dancing as they landed at Edmonton airport, gaining media attention across Canada and internationally.
A spokesman for the South African agency that contracted the firefighters says the workers receive their normal rate of pay, plus $50 extra a day while working in Canada. Moseki says the firefighters are working 12 hour days near Fort McMurray for $50/day.
Notley said she will direct government officials to ensure that any further contracts with agencies from outside Alberta will have to meet the minimum standards of Alberta law.
The CIFFC, which arranged the contract for the province, says the firefighters are being paid $50 per day.
The premier said her government is investigating.
Global News reports some of the 300 South African firefighters are leaving early, but a Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo spokesperson could not say why or how many. Alberta Wildfire said at the time that the crew would work a 14-day rotation, followed by a reassessment of their efforts. Trevor Abrahams, a board member at Working on Fire, said the pay “increase” is mostly derived from the higher “value” of their Canadian pay this year, due to currency fluctuations and the lower cost of living in South Africa compared to Canada.
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The release said that the $50 payment is essentially a daily allowance, while the firefighters continue to be paid in South Africa.
