Eritrea has been criticised by rights groups about its human rights record.
Three Eritreans have been allowed to have their case against the mining firm Nevsun Resources Ltd heard in a Canadian court.
The three are saying that they were forced to work in the Bisha mine in Eritrea, which Nevsun partly owns.
Nevsun, which is based in Vancouver, tried to get the case dismissed saying that it should be heard in Eritrea, the Reuters news agency reports.
Joe Fiorante, one of the lawyers representing the Eritreans, told the AP news agency that this was the first time a case would go to court in Canada over alleged human rights abuses in another country.
Reuters reports that Nevsun describes its mine as a model development and no-one is forced to work there.
It is considering an appeal against the Canadian court’s decision.
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