Recently the federal government introduced some new regulations regarding the Live-in Caregiver Program to be implemented as of April 1, 2010. As owner operator or a nanny agency for the last 30 years, Paragon Personnel Ltd., I wonder if this was a pure coincidence that they chose this April fool’s day for the change….

If the Government is trying to eliminate exploitation of foreign worker in Canada, it has done absolutely nothing to achieve its goals. In fact, it just overburdened its own citizens with no help to the workers. Single parents, seniors and low income families are now told that they must pay thousands of dollars more for the same service with no expectation for a return on their investment. Moreover, I asked Immigration Canada what protection do employers have against caregivers who desert their employer a short time after their arrival in Canada for no good reason. The answer was: “you have to take your own risk…”

So, you offer a job to a foreign worker, you pay the agency fee, the air fare for your nanny, 3 months medical coverage insurance. You wait 5 months for her arrival, you met all conditions agreed upon in your employment contract, and you did everything as required.  But, unfortunately you live in a small town and the nanny wants to be in the big city so she tells you: “I am sorry but …” and you have no power to enforce your contract or get your money back.

Well, thank you Minister Kenny, you have done a great service to the foreigners and a very lousy one to your fellow Canadians. This may be April fools, honorable Minister, but we are no fools.

                          

The federal government announced steps Saturday to better safeguard foreign caregivers from abuse and exploitation, but opposition critics said the changes Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is proposing won’t provide full protection.

The revised regulations stem from months of consultations with caregiver groups, and Kenney expressed hope they will allow a better life for people who come to Canada to become nannies.

“To ensure they’re not subject to abusive situations, to ensure they’re not exploited by unscrupulous consultants and to ensure they have a fair, clear pathway to permanent residency,” Kenney told a news conference.

Among the changes Kenney is planning to the Live-in Caregiver Program is elimination of the requirement for caregivers to undergo a second medical exam.

The measure was proposed by Juana Tejada, a Toronto nanny who developed cancer while working as a caregiver and was initially denied permanent resident status when she failed her second medical examination.

The changes would also give nannies up to four years to complete a total of two years’ work needed to apply for landed-immigrant status. Currently the limit is three years.

The government hopes the change will prevent events like pregnancies or loss of employment from stopping live-in caregivers from meeting government requirements.

Those wanting to hire a nanny from overseas would have to pick up the cost of bringing them to Canada and provide medical coverage until the nannies are eligible for provincial health plans. They would also have to pay any fees to recruiters, Kenney said.

“No longer will caregivers be paying people to get the jobs to work in Canada,” Kenney said.

The government is also going to require caregivers’ employers to clearly outline job duties, hours of work, overtime and holidays, sick leave, and termination and resignation terms.

Employers who provide significantly different wages, working conditions or occupations than they promised may be blacklisted.

The public will have 30 days to comment on the changes before the final version takes effect sometime next year. (According to CTV News)

                          

Choosing child care is an important and sometimes hard decision. If you go back to work, it may mean the end of the special time with your child. For some parents it may feel good, since it means that you have time to do some things for yourself again. Whether you need child care for a very small number of hours or full-time (40 hours a week), spend the time needed to find the setting that is right for you and your child.

There are many child-care choices available. Some families have grandparents or other family to look after their children, while others have a babysitter or a nanny to come to their home. Some take their child to a family daycare provider who cares for a small group of children of different ages in their own home. And still others choose group child care at a centre.

Think about what it is that you are looking for or need.

Plan What Will Work for Your Family

• Do you need care full-time, part-time, or for only a few days a month?
• Can you get your child to daycare or does the caregiver need to come to you?
• Do you need care for the same days each week? Or will you need someone at short notice, or someone who can stay at night if necessary, or someone to care for your child on different days each week?
• How many hours of child care do you need each day? Think about travel time to and from daycare.
• Can you find child care close to your workplace?
• How much can you pay? (Find out about child care subsidies)

Plan What Will Work for Your Child

• Does your child like large groups, small groups or does he like one-to-one attention?
• Do you think he will be happy at home with one caregiver? Having brothers or sisters at home helps.
• Does you child like going out and having lots of things to do, or does he like quiet times the best?

Children can be happy in many different sorts of child-care settings.

(Toddler’s First Steps – A Best Chance Guide to Parenting Your Six-Month to Three-Year-Old)
Do you have more questions? Visit our Forum: CAREGIVERS in CANADA.

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