Migrant Caregivers
PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY February 16 - 28, 2019
from PAGE 4
while Care Work is a per-
manent need. Care Work-
ers have been coming to
Canada for more than 100 years;
- The announcement excludes
workers in Quebec, who remain
caught in a web of exploitation;
- The interim program excludes
workers who have become undocu-
mented as a result of exclusionary
requirement in the current program,
or because they were issued permits
for less than 24 months. These work-
announced keeps the temporary na-
ers must be included;
ture of the system in place, despite
- The interim program is only
evidence that the lack of permanent
open from March 4 to June 4, 2019
resident status is the primary reason
- which is not sufficient time for
for migrant worker exploitation;
many workers to even hear about
- The changes announced are
the changes. Only 1,955 Care Work-
for a pilot program, restricted to 5
ers and dependents were granted
years, and by Ministerial order rather
permanent residency in the first 36
than by changes to law or regula-
months under the current Caregiver
tions. This is a temporary change,
program set to expire
in November 2019.
This is in stark con-
trast to the average of
10,740 Care Workers
and their dependants
who received perma-
nent resident status
every year under the
previous Live-In Care-
giver program;
5,500
- The
cap on applicants per
year is far lower the
Care Work in the econ-
omy. Concerns remain
about assessment in
sending countries, and
what will happen to
Care Workers who ap-
ply each year after the
5,500 cap has been
reached;
- It is not clear
if the existing criteria
of Canadian 1-year
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gets a hug as he visits caregivers and their family members
post-secondary edu-
at Malvern Family Resource Centre in Toronto on March 31, 2017. (Frank Gunn; The
cation equivalent and
Canadian Press)
high levels of English
WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM
language expertise will be part of the
new pilot program. If it is, and as-
sessments are happening in sending
countries, this new pilot program
will shut out migrants with fewer re-
sources who have historically been
able to come to Canada under Care-
giver Programs;
- No resources have been an-
nounced for families arriving with
Care Workers in the new pilot; or for
workers to access the interim pro-
gram. It is essential that assistance
be provided to ensure that family
members are able to settle in Can-
ada, including affordable housing,
full healthcare and the ability attend
schools and post-secondary institu-
tions without paying high interna-
tional fees;
- No details on regulating re-
cruiters, licensing employers and
holding them jointly financially liable
were announced which will be even
more essential with processing hap-
pening in sending countries;
- Section 38(1)(c) of the IRPA
(“Medical Inadmissibility” rules) has
not been repealed which denies PR
to an entire family if even one mem-
ber of the family has a disability. No
details have been announced on
whether there will be a second medi-
cal examination; and
- Temporary migrant Care
Work remains an ad-hoc solution
rather than part of a broader Care
Strategy in Canada that ensures uni-
versal childcare and elder care.