Live-In Caregiver

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Update for the Foreign Live-in Caregiver

Posted by on 23 Jun 2011 | Tagged as: Live-In Caregiver, Live-in Caregiver Program

On April 1, 2011, Service Canada has introduced new rules and regulations under the ’Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP).
In order to keep you up to date with the relevant changes that may concern your employment of a foreign caregiver, please note the following:

1. Any contract / work permit extension required to continue the employment of your present caregiver for another year (or more) must be processed 6 months ahead of the date of expiry of the present work permit.
The procedures with Service and Immigration Canada will take approx. 6 months to complete.
Note: If the caregiver has already applied for a permanent residence status, asking Immigration Canada to provide an ‘Open visa’, there is no need to apply for a new work permit as long as the caregiver will continue working for the same employer.

2. The B.C. provincial government have already announced the new minimum wage rate that applies for the live-in caregiver program in B.C.:

  • a. Effective May 1, 2011, the minimum wage in BC is $8.75 gross per hour
  • b. Effective November 1, 2011 the rate will climb to $9.50 per hour
  • c. Effective May 1, 2012 the rate is set to be $10.25 per hour

Note: The room & board deduction has not changed – $325.00 monthly ($150.00 bi-weekly).

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BC minimum wage increases from $8 per hour to $8.75 per hour

Posted by on 03 May 2011 | Tagged as: Hiring A Nanny, Live-In Caregiver, Live-in Caregiver Program, Live-In Nanny Salary

Live-in caregivers are covered by the Employment Standards Act and Regulation.  These provisions include overtime pay, statutory holidays and holiday pay, annual vacations and vacation pay, and minimum wage.

As of May 1, 2011, minimum wage increased to $8.75 per hour. There are two scheduled increases as follows:

  • November 1, 2011 – $9.50 per hour ;
  • May 1, 2012 – $10.25 per hour.

A live-in caregiver is a person who:

  • was approved to participate in the Live-in Caregiver Program at a visa office outside of Canada; and,
  • has a valid work permit to work as a live-in caregiver for children, seniors or the disabled with an employer in Canada.
  • is employed at an employer’s private residence to provide cooking, cleaning, child care or other prescribed services, and
  • resides at the employer’s private residence.

Before the job starts there must be a written employment agreement between the live-in caregiver and the employer.

The agreement must set out the caregiver’s duties, hours of work, wages and charges for room and board.  The employer must give the live-in caregiver a copy of this agreement.

If a live-in nanny / caregiver works more hours than are set out in the employment agreement, the caregiver must be paid extra for these hours. If working more hours means the domestic works more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week, the extra pay must be paid at overtime rates.

Maximum charges for room and board are set by the Regulation.  These charges must not be more than $325 per month.

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