African Mine Workers Can Sue Canadian Company

(RTTNews) - The Supreme Court of British Columbia has allowed a lawsuit filed by three Eritreans victims against Nevsun Resources to be tried in Canada.

Nevsun Resources had earlier asked the Court to dismiss the case as the alleged criminal acts occurred in other country.

The case involves three Eritrean workers who allege Nevsun was complicit in the Eritrean government's use of slave labor. They say they were forced to work at Nevsun's Bisha copper mine in Eritrea and were subjected to harsh treatment. The lawsuit was filed on November 2014.

Justice Patrice Abrioux rejected Nevsun's request and ruled, "There is sufficient cogent evidence from which I can conclude that there is a real risk that the plaintiffs could not be provided with justice in Eritrea."

Canadian courts have jurisdiction to try Canadian companies for alleged criminal acts that occurred in other countries, but have been reluctant to do so until now.

Meanwhile, Nevsun said it remains confident that its indirect 60%-owned Eritrean subsidiary, Bisha Mining Share Company operates the Bisha Mine according to international standards of governance, workplace conditions, health, safety and human rights.