Caregiver in Canada – a job that most OFWs is dreaming of because of how the country looks after it’s people. But before you apply, you should know what to expect. 1. a caregiver in Canada can work in three different categories. •Nanny •Caregiver for special Needs •Elderly providers Nanny is most popular between the three because even you don’t have a caregiver certification, you are eligible as long as you have at least a year of paid experience.The other two need a certification. Caregiver certification from outside Canada doesn’t guarantee you to gain employment as an elderly caregiver. Most live-in caregivers use the nannying scheme then they take care aide courses to work in an institution or families to taking care elderly. Caregiver in other countries is a term used in looking after elderly only but in Canada, it is a general term for somebody who is literally giving care to people of all ages. 2. The nannying job isn’t only about watching the kids. In some countries, housekeeper/domestic helper and nanny could be two different people. In Canada, a nanny does housekeeping as well. It depends on how much work your employers want you to do. Some do everything from vacuuming, mopping, cooking, ironing clothes and even car washing. Other nannies don’t need to cook for the family they’re working for. Canadians are very independent so they’re not hiring a live-in housekeeper unless they’re wealthy enough to pay for a full-time employee. 3. The educational attainment of the caregiver, which is a major requirement to be qualified in Canada, is a high school graduate. A high school graduate in Canada finished grade 12 . In other countries like the Philippines, it is equivalent to two years in college or 72units in her course . Unfortunately, an applicant who has less units isn’t qualified. 4. As stated on the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, an applicant coming from other countries shouldn’t pay for the placement fee. They are shouldered by employers. Unfortunately, some employment agencies are asking payments for the services. In Canada, an employee can leave its job even she’s not finished with her contract yet. A nanny can find another work to continue the live-in caregiver program. So an employer who pays all the expenses of her worker she hired from a foreign country can be left hanging. Worst, some employers paid huge amount of money to bring the employee over to Canada. 5. The minimum salary of a person in a live-in caregiver program ranges from $10 – 12$. Those who finished their program are paid higher than the minimum wage. In a week, a nanny is required to work for 40 or 45 hours depending on the provinces. This is 5 days of work in a week. The remaining 2 days are the employee’s day off. 6. The employer can deduct a monthly room rent from her employee’s salary. The amount of accommodation rental varies in every province. For example, an employer of a caregiver in British Columbia can deduct as much as 325$ monthly rent. Other provinces provinces have cheaper rental such as Saskatchewan with only 250$ but some have expensive accommodation charge that can go up to 420$/month. 7. Aside from the monthly rent, the taxes and employment insurance are deducted from the caregiver’s salary as well. Many are complaining for the deduction because it accounts the significant portion of the gross income but because if you are receiving a minimum salary, you are considered as one of the low-income worker of the country. Thus, you receive a quarterly Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) credit. 8. A live-in caregiver can’t work for other people other than the listed employer in her work permit. Those who are working under-the-table can be deported if they are caught. An open-work permit, on the other hand, can work for any employers. An employee can apply for an OPW after the two year program. 9. Aside from an OPW, the employee can also apply for the permanent residency when the two year program is finished. The open permit is approved in a few months while the permanent residency takes years. The permanent takes longer especially when the primary applicants have spouse and kids as her/his dependents from outside Canada. To check if you are qualified to be a caregiver in Canada, please visit ofwstories/how-to-be-a-caregiver-in-canada/ Please visit this site to know which countries are the best places to start your application to be a caregiver in Canada
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 18:52:46 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015