Canada faces labor shortage: International students allowed to work unrestricted hours
From November 15, International students in Canada will be allowed to work off-campus for an unrestricted number of hours. Until the end of December next year the relaxation is available. Currently while classes are in session international students can work off-campus only for 20 hours per week. This restriction often led to their working at the entry level. It led to deportation.
Sean Fraser, Canada’s immigration minister, has made an announcement that it is temporary and is meant to help resolve the labor-shortage crisis faced by Canadian employers. It will also ease the financial burden of international students and from November 15, 2022, until December 31, 2023, international students who are in Canada and who have off-campus work authorization on their study permit will not be restricted by the 20-hour-per-week rule stated by the Immigration refugee and citizenship Canada.
The foreign nationals who have already submitted a study permit application, as of today October 7, will also be able to benefit from this temporary change, provided their study permit application and Canada needs to look at every option so that we have the skills and workforce needed to fuel their growth. For addressing their labour shortage Immigration is crucial. While providing more opportunities for international students to gain valuable Canadian work experience and continue contributing to our short-term recovery and long-term prosperity and they can help ease pressing needs in many sectors across the country, by allowing international students to work.
Leeway is not available to future students. To ensure that this temporary leeway isn’t misused by job seekers, safeguards have been built. Study permit holders are still expected to balance their study and work commitments and Canada currently has more than five lakhs international students. 1,15,000 Indian students were approved to study in Canada From January to September 2021.
There is an estimation of more than 1,40,000 Indian students who were approved during 2021. It leaves three business days and the weekend, assuming that a student has to attend college at least one or two weeks a day.
A lot of international students possess prior experience which can be used to their advantage and they should be given an opportunity so that we can start gaining experience and be ready for the market when we graduate and this will also help the employers who look for experienced freshers.
Today's announcement is about labor mobility and rights, and it’s a direct result of years of tireless organization by current and former international students.
Sarom rho, an organizer for migrant students united said that removing the limit on hours of work while studying gives migrant student workers the power to leave bad jobs, speak up against exploitation and mistreatment, and freedom and flexibility to make decisions and all.
