Some Live-in Caregivers Abusing New Rules
New Canadian Live-in Caregiver Regulations Create An Easy “In” To Canada
A while back, we wrote about how the new Live in Caregiver rules are causing issues for Canadian employers. Now stories are coming out that are bearing our predictions true unfortunately.
The Canadian media has been picking up on several stories about Canadians being left in the dark by live-in caregivers they’ve sponsored to come to Canada. In one case, a live-in caregiver said she had nobody in Canada, yet one day the employer found a handful of her relatives and the police at his door, saying the live-in caregiver was being mistreated and was leaving. Because of the new rules introduced in April 2010, it’s easier for unscrupulous people who want to game to system to get into Canada and do so.
It usually costs employers between $3,000 and $5,000 in the beginning to hire a live-in caregiver when considering travel costs. Sometimes caregivers show up and leave after only a few weeks, while others never show up at all – but despite all of the horror stories in the news, these instances are still very rare.
According to the Association of Caregiver and Nanny Agencies Canada, shortly after the rules were introduced in April of last year the number of caregivers in Canada dropped by 70 per cent because of a lack of placement options.
New Rules To Protect Canadian Live-in Caregivers Leave Little Recourse For Employers
The new rules introduced by Citizenship and Immigration Canada last year included:
– Employers must pay for the caregiver’s health coverage until they could qualify for provincial health care.
– Employers must pay for the caregiver to come to Canada.
– Employers must create an air-tight contract that includes the duration of the contract, the caregiver’s duties, hours, accommodation and other factors.
Live-in Caregivers have been given a lot of protection with the latest rules, and employers should be extra diligent when deciding to hire a live-in caregiver. Employers are falling by the wayside slightly with the new protections offered, but one has to consider that the abuse some live-in caregivers have dealt with in the past makes these new rules necessary.
We are all for protecting foreign workers but it is also a two-way street: Canadians also have to be protected.
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Sir. The employer applied for my lima . it is in my hand. Met an immigration consultant. she made my documents to proceed for my work permit, and when to buffalo boarder to re enter the country with a caregiver visa. border immigration refuse to give me the visa and informed me to apply on line. How money I spend all in water. Please advice me what to do next. Thank you.
Hello Shiromi,
Thanks for the message. Sorry to hear that you were refused entry, but fortunately we have a lot of experience in these types of cases,and we would be happy to help you achieve your immigration goals. Please dont hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.
Regards,
Owen
Hello Mrs Michael
I’d like to go to Canada like an live-in caregiver
I already know a family who liked me
I have all the requirements
but my english is not good
I’m afraid about the visa interview
Would it be a problem ?
And what are the question interview?
Hello Nini,
If you have a family who is ready to sponsor you and you should be good to apply. Canadian Government official languages are English or French, the Citizenship and Immigration Canada would like to see that the person who is applying for a live-in-caregiver Work Permit should be able to communicate in one of the languages. If you have the beginner or intermediate language ability to communicate, you should pass the interview. Usually they ask about your past work experiences, your job duties, children`s age, where your employer works, what would be your job responsibilities in your new work or on your contract. Your taken courses if any mentioned on your application. All of the questions are related to your job, education and responsibilities, as you stated in your application.
Thank you for replying.abused in working max of 19 hours on some days, some days are 18 hours, 17 & so on…. I’ve completed my two years with them.I tried looking for Employer but they can’t wait for 6 months for lmo processing. Now in waiting for my open work permit.I Don’t know if there’s a way to speed it up
I worked as a live in caregiver, in a very abusive couple, they fired me for asserting my rights.please give me advice.is there any ways to speed up the owp application or lmo process?thank you very much
Hello Linette
I am sorry about your situation. If you have been abused you can call the police or make a complaint under the Employment Standards Act (ESA). For the LMO process, you need a job offer first. Do you have one?
Michael