Section 251 — Canada Labour Code: Where underpayments found on inspection

If the Head finds that an employer has failed to pay an employee any wages or other amounts to which the employee is entitled under this Part, the Head may determine the difference between the wages or other amounts actually paid to the employee under this Part and the wages or other amounts to which the employee is entitled under this Part. For greater certainty, the Head may, when exercising the powers referred to in subsection (1), make any finding necessary to determine whether an employee is entitled to any wages or other amounts under this Part, including a finding that the employee was dismissed for just cause for the purposes of Division X or XI. If the employer fails to make or keep any record in respect of an employee that the employer is required to make or keep under this Part —

or fails to allow the Head to examine, take extracts from or make copies of such a record — the Head may, when exercising the powers referred to in subsection (1), rely on any other available evidence. If, under subsection (1), the Head determines that there is a difference between the wages or other amounts actually paid to an employee and the wages or other amounts to which the employee is entitled and the amount of that difference is agreed to in writing by the employee and his or her employer, the employer must, within five days after the date of the agreement, pay the amount to the employee on the direction of the Head; or to the Head. If an employer pays the amount under subsection (2) to the Head, the Head must, without delay after receiving it, pay it over to the employee who is entitled to the amount. No prosecution for failure to pay an employee the wages or other amounts to which the employee was entitled under this Part shall, without the written consent of the Minister, be instituted against the employer when the employer has made payment of any amount of difference in wages or other amounts in accordance with subsection (2).