Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - December 2009
The Government has announced their planned changes to Canada�s live-in caregiver program designed to help protect workers from exploitation.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney made the announcement earlier this month, after recent stories of abuse brought the issue to the forefront of public consciousness. He said that the proposed changes will not only protect against abuse, but also will ease the immigration process for foreign live-in caregivers.
�To ensure they're not subject to abusive situations, to ensure they're not exploited by unscrupulous consultants and to ensure they have a fair, clear pathway to permanent residency,� said Kenney.
The changes include one year�s extension allowing caregivers more time to complete the necessary work hours to qualify for permanent resident status. Caregivers would also no longer be required to complete a second medical examination before they qualify for immigration.
The financial responsibility will no longer be on the worker�s shoulders, as employers would be required to pay all costs involved in bringing the worker to Canada, any recruitment fees, as well as provide any medical coverage necessary (until the worker qualifies for provincial health care).
Finally, any employer who did not live up to the wages, hours, working conditions, or any other promises made to the foreign worker would be put on a �blacklist� to warn future caregivers of the risk.
However, many critics are not convinced that the Government�s proposals will do enough to protect the live-in caregivers, and that granting them permanent resident status as soon as they arrive in Canada would allow them the courage to stand up for their own rights as well as the ability to bring their families with them immediately.
Furthermore, critics are sceptical of the proposed blacklist, saying that it provides neither a clear consequence to employers who abuse, or an effective way of monitoring the program.
The public will have 30 days to comment on the proposed changes before the final changes are implemented next year.
Source: The Globe and Mail
