Foreign Care Workers Program Reform

Synopsis:

This CBC article discusses how the Migrants Rights Network, which is part of a larger coalition of self-organized and grassroots advocacy groups are calling on the Canadian government to make reformations to the current existing foreign care workers program. Part of this calls asks that care workers are consulted and are permitted to have input and direction in the process as Ottawa works to develop better policies with possible streams to allow permanent residency, landed status, and the possibility to reunite with family members. The coalition and advocacy groups also discuss the possible abuses that care workers face within the existing program.

Rationale:

This article was selected because it included the list of requests by caregivers and their concerns related to the current immigration program and its flaws. The requirements that are in place maintain a system of forced family separation, limitations on applications, and education requirements that are not feasible within the contract arrangements that are usually made among domestic caregivers and their employers.

I chose this news link because it included a personal story and statements from a domestic caregiver that show how the experiences of some caregivers have been difficult and have left people open to abuses and unjust workplace practices. This includes, but not limited to, unfair wages and hours, limited social interaction outside of the house, and refusals from employers to sign paperwork. The situations that allow abuses within the caregivers programs can be linked to the invisible work of domestic caregivers and the lack of public discussion on its policy in Canada. This especially affects women from overseas by creating a power imbalance between employers and contract caregivers. Employers can refuse to sign or certify paperwork which can delay or reject application paperwork for status and can result in the expulsion of workers. While it does not provide many stories, it is one of many stories that have been recorded and compiled by the coalition and network of advocacy groups fighting for migrants’ rights which is linked within the article. Although this news article highlights a single story, it holds relevance in that this is not the sole story and that there are several more.

URL/Link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/foreign-care-workers-pilot-programs-review-reform-1.4910390

Keywords: Caregivers, advocacy, migrants, policy, residency

Author: CulturalDragonfly