Changes in Canada’s live-in caregiver program raise concern

Canada, 8th December: Changes announced in Canada’s live-in caregiver program in April 2010 have put a question mark on

the future of this program.

Live-in caregiver program of Canada has been successful in allowing foreigners to work as caregivers. However, changes announced in Canada’s live-in caregiver program in April 2010 have put a question mark on the future of this program.

Canada live-in caregiver program--Live-in caregiver program of Canada has been successful in allowing entry of foreign caregivers to come and work in Canada. This program enables Canadian families get a foreigner wanting to work as a caregiver for aged parents, children and disabled persons.

And the best thing about Canada live-in caregiver program is that it allows foreign care-givers to make application for Canada permanent residency after compeletion of fixed number of work hours within a span of four years after arrival in Canada.

Canada’s recent changes in foreign live-in caregivers program has raised concerns not just for caregivers but also for families wanting to employ such workers

Canada lowers annual quota for PR to live-in caregivers—A point worth mentionable is that the federal government has announced decreasing the annual quota for foreign live-in caregivers to be granted Canada permanent residency(PR) in the year 2012. The quota for the year 2011 was 12,000 to 16,000. However, from 2012, it will be 8,000 to 9,300.

Meanwhile, Canada immigration minister Jason Kenney has justified the decrease in the annual quota for Canada PR to foreign live-in caregivers saying it is being done following a low demand for foreign live-in caregivers in Canada.

Canadian families concerned by changes in Canada live-in caregiver program –Canadian families seekign to hire foreign live-in caregivers are going to bear the brunt of the recent changes to the program. As per the new rules, familes employing foreign live-in caregivers in Canada will have to shell out upfront costs for enabling their arrival in Canada.

However, many families don’t want to spend money on an unknown person since there is no guarantee whether the concerned live-in caregiver will keep working for them if he or she finds a more suitable job.