On the Live-in Caregiver Program WE DEMAND MEANINGFUL CHANGES TO PROTECT CAREGIVERS AND TO ASSERT OUR HUMAN RIGHTS On October 31, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration announced significant reforms to the Live-In Caregiver Program supposedly to show that he values the contributions caregivers make to Canadian families and the economy. These reforms were tabled in non-transparent closed-door consultations, which excluded Migrante Canada and other migrant worker advocates. It is not surprising that these changes do not meaningfully address the vulnerability faced by caregivers. It is not surprising that he ignored the call of migrant worker advocates for decades to remove the root cause of vulnerability faced by caregivers by giving them permanent residence upon arrival. Recent announcements were touted as improving the lives of caregivers, but they are meant to deceive us into thinking that these are a good news story. Here are some myths. Myth 1: Making the live-in requirement optional will significantly reduce the vulnerability of caregivers. Reality: The status of a caregiver is still tied to one employer. Employers can demand for a live in caregiver and exercising the option is a risk a caregiver will take. Many caregivers cannot afford to live out, so it is not a real choice. They only get paid minimum wage, not a living wage. Myth 2: Caregivers will be reunited with their families sooner. Reality: Caregivers are still required to work as temporary foreign workers for two years. The promise to process applications for permanent residence within 6 months will hardly make a difference. With medical, security screening and other requirements, family separation from 3 to 5 years will continue to be the reality. What is worse is that putting a cap of only 2,750 will allow only a small group of caregivers to become permanent residents. The cap is an inhuman way to address the issue of backlogs. It would mean that a caregiver would go through a high stakes lottery where her life and future are on the line. Higher language and education levels required for the two new caregiver streams will be difficult to meet. Many temporary foreign workers in caregiver occupations will not become permanent and will not be re-united with their families in Canada. Truth: Caregivers are now part of thousands of temporary foreign workers who will take their chances in Canada. The Canadian government takes advantage of widespread joblessness in countries such as the Philippines to meet the caregiving needs of Canadian families in the absence of a national childcare or home care program. At the same time, the Philippine government acts as a broker for Filipinos to work overseas to ease the ever growing unemployment and underemployment in the Philippines, stave off social unrest and benefit from the billions dollars of annual remittances to keep the ailing economy afloat as part of its labour export policy. Migrant workers will continue to endure low wages, difficult working conditions and family separation in the hope of becoming a permanent resident, but their dreams will not be realized. MIGRANTE CANADA strongly reiterates its demand for the Canadian government to grant live-in caregivers permanent residence upon arrival. We call on the Philippine government to end the labor export policy, and create decent jobs so Filipinos do not have to leave the country and work abroad. Migrante Canada is a Canada-wide migrants alliance with 19 member organizations from British Columbia in the west coast to the Atlantic Provinces in the east coast. Migrante Canada is also a member of the global alliance of Migrante International of 90 member organizations in 22 countries. Migrante BC Migrante Alberta Migrante Manitoba Damayan Manitoba iWorkers - Toronto Filipino Migrant Workers Movement - Toronto Binnadang Migrante Pilipinong Migrante sa Barrie Philippine Advocacy through Arts and Culture - Toronto Migrante Youth Philippine Migrant Society of Canada Migrante Ottawa PINAY (Filipino Women’s Organization in Quebec) Filipino Workers Support Group Filipino Parents Support Group of Quebec Caregivers Association of Quebec Cordillera Peoples Support Group Quebec Aklan Association of Quebec Migrante Organizing Group - Maritimes ___________________________________________________________________________ We dream of a society where families is not separated for the urgent need of survival
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 17:04:13 +0000
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