LCP flawed, needs major changes (Part 2)

LCP flawed, needs major changes (Part 2)

Definitely, the foreign LCP is flawed and needs major changes. My concern is by demanding that the foreign caregivers come as Permanent Residents, what effect would this have on the Immigration requirements? Right now, there are 4 requirements for a live in caregiver applicant: 1) Grade 12 Equivalency 2) English or French proficiency 3) One year work experience as a caregiver or 6 month full-time caregiver training certificate and 4) An employment contract. Then, upon arrival in Canada, as long as they complete their 24 months of full-time caregiver employment, they may apply for permanent resident status. The live-in caregiver program, compared to other immigration programs still is the least costly , $150 for application, faster to process, 2 to 18 months, than an application for Federal Skilled Worker, a permanent resident status application, which may take anywhere from 4 years to 6 years to process.

If the Live in Caregiver Program is scrapped and replaced by another program under the Permanent Resident category, the requirements may be higher and more difficult to pass. Permanent residency upon landing, sounds good but, at what price? Acquiring it could also mean higher standards, higher fees and longer processing time.

What I would like to see is an issuance of a work permit for a foreign caregiver that is good for three years, the worker can change employers as long as it’s within the caregiver job, without applying for renewal of work permit every time she changes employer, the live in condition should be optional, instead of 24 month requirement, make it 12 months. As long as the foreign caregiver, live-in or live-out can prove 12 months of caregiver job, within three years, she is eligible to apply for Permanent Resident status.

I support efforts to fight against abuses and exploitation. I also support the crackdown on agents and recruiters who make false promises and exploit Filipinos. We need to continue to create awareness on the problems and issues facing Filipino foreign workers. What other measures can we take to bring positive changes?

It begins with education. The Philippines Overseas Labor Offices in Canada, the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine consular offices can take a more active role in educating Filipino temporary workers. Use the Media – newspaper, TV, send out brochures to temporary workers on where to get help if they are being abused. When they arrive in any Canadian airport, they should be given a “Welcome to Canada” information package that includes: The Philippine Embassy, the Philippine Consular offices in Canada, locations and phone numbers, the various Canadian government offices, Service Canada, Immigration Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency, the provincial Ministry of Health offices, the RCMP, Provincial Police headquarters and phone numbers, non-government or non-profit organizations who advocate for rights and equality of new immigrants and temporary workers. They should be instructed to report, email or call the Philippine Embassy and register their name, address and contact number, so they can be easily contacted. There should be ongoing seminars, here in Canada, especially in provinces where there are a lot of Filipino foreign workers, to explain the temporary worker program. Who must leave, and who can stay? Where can they go or who can they talk to if they are being exploited? What assurance can you give them that if they expose the agent that scammed them that they would not face deportation? What are their rights and obligations.

In Alberta, the provincial government conducts seminars on Hiring Foreign workers for the employers, recruiters and consultants. Who is giving seminars to the foreign workers? Everyone else is getting valuable information, except temporary workers. Here are some ways that the Philippine government agencies in Canada can guide, support and protect Filipino foreign workers:1) by implementing programs to help and educate Filipino temporary workers, 2) by pushing for regulation of employment agencies in all provinces, especially Ontario, similar to Alberta’s Fair Trading Act, that prohibits agencies from collecting placement fees from employees and 3) registration of employment agencies in Canada that recruit Filipino workers with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

There are no easy solutions to issues and problems facing Filipino temporary workers and Live in Caregivers. Talking about it, creating awareness is just the beginning. Making demands and call for changes certainly grab people’s attention and build momentum. An open forum, attended by all parties concerned : Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Philippine Overseas Labour Office, advocacy groups for foreign workers’ rights, immigration professionals – lawyers and consultants, caregivers, employers and temporary workers. This is an effective way to open up communication and work towards finding constructive solutions.

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(Mila V. Echevarria is a Certified Canadian Immigration Consultant and Member of Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants-Alim2k2@yahoo.com)