By Richard J. Brennan
December 15, 2011
Following a year-long investigation by the Toronto Star into the exploitation of live-in foreign caregivers, the federal government has agreed to issue about 10,000 open work permits allowing them to move from one job to another after their employment commitment ends.
Citizenship Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney made the announcement Thursday, some 18 months earlier than anticipated.
“The change I have announced today will help caregivers settle into their new life in Canada while they wait for their permanent resident applications to be processed,” Kenney said in a news release.
Under the federal Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) caregivers are obliged to work for two years, or 3,900 hours, and then become eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada. But under the previous rules a caregivers was tied to the particular employer until their application was considered.
“Too many live-in caregivers have completed their work obligations but must continue living in the home of their employer, waiting for their application for permanent residence to be reviewed,” Kenney said.
“This is understandably frustrating. That’s why we have started issuing open work permits to live-in caregivers as soon as they have completed their obligations and submitted an application for permanent residence.”
An open work permit allows the caregiver to move out of their employer’s home and seek jobs in other fields, if that is their wish.
As of Dec. 11, all live-in caregivers who have met their obligations and who have submitted an application for permanent residence have had their files reviewed. Those who submitted an open work permit application with no missing information are being issued open work permits, according to the immigration department.
In 2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada admitted a record 14,000 permanent residents through the Live-in Caregiver Class. the news release stated.
Ottawa has taken a number of steps to protect live-in caregivers from abuse and exploitation with regulatory improvements in the Live-in Caregiver Program in 2010 and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2011, according to the immigration department.
One of the cases of alleged exploitation highlighted by the Star involved former Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla. Nannies complained to the newspaper that they were hired by Dhalla to work at the family home in Mississauga and routinely toiled five days a week, earning $250 a week while working 12- to 16-hour days.
The Dhalla family did not obtain the necessary federal approval under the Live-In Caregiver Program for the women to live and work in their home.
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