Six men said they were forced to work at Nevsun's Bisha mine from 2008 to 2012, enduring harsh conditions, including hunger, illness and physical punishment at the hands of military commanders.

The move would fulfill Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's promise to appoint an extractive industries' watchdog.

A Vancouver-based mining company says allegations of human rights violations at the Bisha open pit mine in northeastern Africa are unfounded and it will defend itself from a civil suit filed in B.C. Supreme Court on Thursday.