You feel your learner is being exploited.

Ideas relating to work are cultural. While I was working in South East Asia, my workload was much heavier than it is in Regina. Not only was I expected to start work as early as 6:30 a.m. (and finish as late as 10 p.m.), I often had to work Saturdays as well.

In most office environments at that time, it was important for all the employees to make sure they arrived at the office before their boss did and to stay until after their boss left. The idea of "employee rights" took second place to the importance of being a "diligent" worker.

While workloads may vary from culture to culture, it would be unjust for anyone to profit by exploiting people who are unaware of local labor standards.

Options to explore with the learner:

Give your learner all the information you possibly can about labour standards. Information regarding labour standards is available on the Internet. (See http://www.labour.gov.sk.ca/standards for information regarding Saskatchewan labour standards.) You can simplify the material that is pertinent to your learner and have her read it. Discuss the reading with your learner and let the learner know what options are available to her. You may want to brainstorm the pros and cons of each option.

As a tutor, you are here to help your learner with English. While other issues may come to the forefront that will need to be resolved before learning can take place, it is important to inform and empower the learner to resolve issues on her own terms.