Campaign Updates

Press Conference: Live-In Caregivers reject the conservative government’s discriminatory policies!

September 3, 2015

On August 30th, the Caregivers’ Action Centre gave a press conference to expose the lies and discriminatory immigration policies of the conservative government. Six months after Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced an overhaul of the Caregiver program to win Filipino votes, Live-In Caregivers are criticizing the conservative government for its lies. Labour market assessment (LMIA) applications are being rejected at a rate of 90%, and the time it takes for Caregivers to get permanent residency has doubled. These secretive changes to the rules of the Caregiver Program are forcing Caregivers to stay with abusive and exploitative employers, because quitting the job means being forced to the leave the country. Or when employers lay off caregivers, workers are left in limbo facing almost huge barriers to new employment.

Caregivers’ Action Centre members Kristina Torres and Teta Bayan told their powerful stories of the precarity and abuse they experienced as live-in Caregivers in Canada. Kristina is a Filipina Live-In Caregiver who has had two Labour Market Impact Assessments rejected. Teta is also a Filipina caregiver who has had over 5 employers in Canada and is caught in complications arising from the recent changes to the Caregiver Program.

On October 31, 2014, Minister Chris Alexander announced a program titled Improving Canada’s Caregiver Program which promised to “protect caregivers from abuse and reduce family separation … caregivers will be provided with more pathways towards permanent residence”. This announcement was specifically pitched to the vote-heavy Filipino community and statements were gathered from key community leaders in support of the promise.

Since then it has come to light that 90% of all LMIAs filed between January and March of 2015 were rejected. Not only does this mean that few Caregivers are coming in from outside Canada, it means that Caregivers already in Canada forced to quit their jobs because of abuse and mistreatment are unable to start a new job. This limit on LMIAs has created immense fear in the Caregiver community, with most workers choosing to stay quiet in the face of abuse and mistreatment.

At the same time, the processing time for permanent residency applications is currently at 46 months, up from 26 months in January 2014. This extended time period that Caregivers must live in limbo awaiting processing of their permanent residency application causes great anxiety, stress and ill-health.
Caregiver organizations are reiterating calls for permanent status on arrival for all migrant workers, and access to open work permits so that workers already in Canada are not locked into bad jobs.

NO TO CONDITIONAL PERMANENT STATUS! PERMANENT STATUS UPON ARRIVAL FOR ALL CAREGIVERS AND MIGRANT WORKERS!

Kristina Torres facilitates a Caregivers’ Action Centre community discussion session.

From left to right: Kristina Torres, Karina Francisco, Teta Bayan.

The community supporters and members of CAC observe the press conference.

Caregivers rally for status on landing

December 10, 2014

On November, 22, 2014, Current and Former Caregivers gathered at 150 King West, the Federal Ministers HQ to insist that recent changes to the law hurt Caregivers.

With one voice, we insisted: Status on landing! Now!

On November 30, 2014, the current Conservative government implemented changes that will make it even harder for many Caregivers to get permanent residency. But we will not stop fighting to make sure that us and our families get the justice we deserve.

You can read our summary of changes to the program here. If you are a Caregiver who needs to change your job, or if you are in touch with Caregivers that enter Canada after November 30th, 2014, please get in touch with us at caregiversaction@gmail.com so we can support you.

To our allies, we ask that you contact your Members of Parliament and let them know that you oppose placing a cap on how many Caregivers can gain permanent residency.

Huffington Post: Why is Stephen Harper sending Caregivers back to 1973?
Toronto Star: New rules for Federal Live-In Caregiver Program
Rabble.ca: Harper government’s changes to Live-in Caregiver Program harm workers

Access to Permanent Residency limited under new Government Rules

November 12, 2014

Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced changes affecting Live-in Caregivers. Changes to the new Caregiver Program will go into effect on November 30 2014.

What’s new?

Living at your employer’s home is now optional if both you and your employer agree. If you choose to Live-In, the employer cannot charge you room and board.
There are two streams of caregivers. One is for caregivers giving care to children in family homes. The other is for caregivers caring for people with high medical needs such as elderly and people with disabilities in either family homes or health care facilities. To qualify for this stream, caregivers must have specific education and language requirements.
There is no longer a right for caregivers to access for permanent residency after 2 years of service. Instead, the government will allow only 2,750 caregivers to access permanent residency from each of the new streams each year. To apply for permanent residency, you must show 1 year of post-secondary study. This could either be studies you did back home, that you get accredited here, or studies you do in Canada. You have to do an English language test and pass to Level 5. Unless you’re a Registered Nurse or Psychiatric Nurse, in which case you have to pass at Level 7.

What’s Good?

Ending the live-in requirement is a huge gain for caregivers who have been fighting for this for years. Making live-in optional is an important step in helping caregivers reduce abuses. But caregivers need decent wages to make living out a real option.

What’s Bad?

The new rules won’t solve many problems caregivers face.

The government did not listen to caregivers and our demand for permanent residency on arrival. PR on arrival is necessary to protect workers from abuse, allowing caregivers to speak out about abuses without risk of deportation.

The government is removing the right that caregivers had under the old program to apply for permanent residency. Instead, only 2,750 caregivers in each stream who pass new education and language requirements will be granted PR per year. Minister Alexander says that the demand for caregivers will continue to grow. Yet, the government has capped access to permanent residency. The Minister confirmed that those that don’t get residency under the cap will be sent home after 4 years.

Caregivers will still have to find an employer who has an approved Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Caregivers will still have to get a work permit that is tied to one employer and complete two years of service under the program.

What we don’t know?

Lots. The government did not give much information about the new rules; how they will affect caregivers already working in Canada and those yet to apply.

Live-in or live-out? The government has not said whether caregivers change their mind if a live-in agreement with the employer becomes oppressive?

Why two streams? The government did not say why it is splitting the caregiver program into two streams – one for childcare and one for high medical needs. Each stream caps at 2,750 how many caregivers that meet the requirements can apply for PR. The total for the two streams is 5,000 PR each year. But that is well below the annual average of over 8,000 caregivers that have come to Canada over the past 5 years.

High Medical Needs stream – this stream would allow caregivers that qualify to work in health care facilities; not just people’s homes. Why is the government expanding the Caregiver Program to include registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, and licensed practical nurses? These groups of workers currently come under the Federal Skilled Worker Program with the right to permanent residence on arrival. Why make these groups of workers temporary under the caregiver program?

These are just some of the questions caregivers have.

What can we do?

The federal parties are getting ready for the election in 2015. We have to let them know that many of the changes to the caregiver program will not help caregivers; some will make it worse.

Join the Justice for Caregivers Rally!
Saturday November 22 @ 3 pm
150 King Street West (at University), Toronto

For info: Liza, 647-447-9590

Caregivers Action Centre Spearheaded a Press Conference

October 12, 2014

A simultaneous press conferences were held in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver last October 9.

In Toronto, the Caregivers Action Centre spearheaded the presscon at MWAC’s office with significant numbers of media people present. The events had become an avenue to reveal the closed-door meetings that the Federal Government had been conducting in connection to its plan to remove the permanent residency on the Live in Caregiver Program.

In the conference, it was emphasized the valuable work that a caregiver does, not only to the family where she works but to the community as well. For a caregiver to effectively accomplish her/his duties, he/she has different hats to wear. He/She can be a teacher, a nurse, a counselor, a dietician, a chef, an event planner, an engineer, and a construction worker at times.

CAREGIVERS ARE SKILLED WORKERS.

WE ARE NOT DISPOSABLE.

The Caregivers Action Centre along with other community friends and allies strongly and clearly said only one thing:

PERMANENT RESIDENCY ON ARRIVAL.

For further information, please check on the following sites:

Globe and Mail: Foreign live-in caregivers demand Canadian permanent residency rights – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/foreign-live-in-caregivers-demand-canadian-permanent-residency-rights/article21042685/

CBC: Express entry system floated as government’s fix to live-in caregiver woes -http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/express-entry-system-floated-as-government-s-fix-to-live-in-caregiver-woes-1.2782850

Toronto Star: Foreign nannies fear losing their pathway to permanent status -http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2014/10/09/foreign_nannies_fear_losing_their_pathway_to_permanent_status.html

24H Vancouver: Live-in caregiving called ‘slavery’ -http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/2014/10/09/live-in-caregiving-called-slavery

MSN Canada: Changes to live-in caregiver program won’t solve backlog, groups fear -http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/changes-to-live-in-caregiver-program-wont-solve-backlog-groups-fear/ar-BB8i619

(MWAC)

Signature Campaign at St. Paschal Baylon Church a Success!

September 7, 2014

Thank you so much St. Paschal Baylon for your support.

To Reverend Anthony Pizarro and Rick Cortez of Filipino Support Group, thank you!

Permanent Residency on Arrival for Live-in Caregivers!

: CAC Volunteers with Rick Cortez, the Coordinator of the St. Paschal Baylon’s Filipino Support Group.

: Current and former Caregivers, employers, friends, and supporters showed their support for PERMANENT RESIDENCY ON ARRIVAL FOR LIVE-IN CAREGIVERS.

: everyone wanting to sign the petition: Permanent Residency on Arrival for Live-in Caregivers.

: This shot of St. Paschal parishioners says it all how they support the campaign of caregivers to Permanent Residency on Arrival.

Signature Campaign at “Taste of Manila” & “Mabuhay Philippines”! : PR on Arrival for Live-in Caregivers. Tastefully supported.

September 7, 2014

August 23rd had been a very festive and productive day for the Caregivers Action Centre. Why won’t it be?! The group had a “Taste of Manila” and “Mabuhay Philippines Festival”! Both street festivals showcased various delectable and mouthwatering dishes, worldwide musical talent, and the overwhelming support to the CAC’s signature campaign: Permanent Residency on Arrival for Live-in Caregivers. It was truly a treat.

Thank you! ^^