ONTARIO ACTS TO HELP TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS

Telephone Hotline And Fact Sheet To Aid Live–in Caregivers
April 25, 2009

NEWS
A new toll free telephone hotline, outreach team, and information fact sheet will help employees who are part of the federal Live–in Caregiver Program address issues regarding their employment rights.

The Ministry of Labour hotline will provide these employees, often called nannies, with information on their rights under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). The hotline will be supported by a specially trained team to assist them in filing claims and link them to dedicated investigative officers.

The ESA fact sheet for live–in caregivers provides information on wages, hours of work, overtime pay, and other rights under the ESA. It also explains that employers cannot punish or threaten them for asking for their rights under the ESA.

The measures announced today are part of Ontario’s strategy that will also include introduction of legislation later this year that will, if passed, ban placement fees and begin targeted enforcement of agencies that breach Ontario’s labour laws.

QUOTES
“We are taking action to help protect vulnerable employees who are in Ontario under the federal Live–in Caregiver Program. The new telephone hotline and information fact sheet will assist these employees while we move forward on a made–in-Ontario solution to address broader concerns.”

– Peter Fonseca, Minister of Labour

“Women working in Ontario under the federal Live–in Caregiver Program will now be safer. The hotline and fact sheet will ensure more women know their rights under the law and can take action when their rights aren't being respected.”

– Deb Matthews, Minister Responsible for Women's Issues

QUICK FACTS
The new toll free information hotline will be 1–866–372–3247. The hotline will begin receiving calls on April 27, 2009.

There were approximately 18,000 employees in Ontario in 2007 that were part of the federal Live–in Caregiver Program.

LEARN MORE
Read the new ESA fact sheet for employees in the federal Live–in Caregiver Program
Find out more about the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA)

Our condolence to the family of Juana Tejada

Saddened by Loss of Caregiver Rights Activist: Juana Tejada The Driving Force Behind Campaign to Change Law

This article can be found at: http://www.usw.ca/program/content/5660.php

9 MARCH 2009 - Steelworkers Saddened by Loss of Caregiver Rights Activist: Juana Tejada The Driving Force Behind Campaign to Change Law Msgr. Charles Owen Rice-->
Juana Tejada signing the first iWorkers membership card last summer. Juana passed away Sunday, March 8, 2009 at age 40.

TORONTO – United Steelworkers (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser said Monday that the union is deeply saddened by the loss of Juana Tejada, the live-in caregiver whose struggle to remain in Canada under the federal Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) sparked a campaign to change immigration law and ensure a fair process to workers seeking permanent residence under the LCP.

Known as the Juana Tejada law, the changes are being championed by NDP MP Olivia Chow, who met Juana last summer and worked on her behalf.

An amendment to section 38(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) would include members of the Live-in Caregivers Class on the list of foreign nationals exempted from the “excessive demand” ground of inadmissibility.

Juana Tejada came to Canada after passing a rigorous medical exam but was refused permanent residence and ordered deported after contracting the cancer that ultimately resulted in her death Sunday at age 40. Juana was denied permanent residence twice by Canadian immigration authorities before finally being allowed to stay permanently following a vigorous public campaign.

The proposed amendment would recognize that, if a caregiver has done her work and paid her taxes, she should be entitled to permanent resident status under the Live-in Caregiver Class after at least two years of working here, no matter what her medical condition is. The current immigration laws must be changed so that they do not disqualify hardworking caregivers from becoming permanent residents, only because they develop a medical condition that is clearly beyond her, or anyone’s control.

“Juana Tejada is a true hero and was a fighter for the rights of workers like herself,” said Fraser. “She was a reserved person but was prepared to have her illness and her situation made public if would serve the greater good.

“She was a founding member of the Independent Workers Association, now known as iWorkers, because she felt live-in caregivers needed a stronger voice. Her wish was to have the immigration law changed in her lifetime. Now, it is in her memory that the USW urges Parliament to pass these changes as quickly as possible so that no other caregivers have to face the challenges that Juana did.”

iWorkers is a collaborative effort of the USW and community-based Migrante Ontario
CONTACT: Peter Leibovitch 416.278.4123 Wayne Fraser 416.243.8792; 416.577.4045

Hiring overseas: no longer an affordable option

Dear Clients –

There are several disturbing trends occurring with respect to government policy related to the live in caregiver program. We want to make you aware of these changes, in the event that you would like to communicate with your government representatives about your family’s need for access to overseas foreign caregivers.

In recent months, the government has repeatedly slowed processing times in Hong Kong, which is the best source of live in nannies in the world. We have gone from a processing time of 4 weeks to 6 months or longer within the span of one year. At the same time, it has become more difficult for the caregivers to submit and follow up their applications in Hong Kong. This is unacceptable, particularly in light of the shortage of local caregivers in our current economic environment. The changes have very negatively affected many hundreds of Canadian families desperately waiting for help.

We have received word that Citizenship and Immigration Canada is about to make it even tougher for Canadian families to hire caregivers from overseas. Within the next four months, proposed changes to the program include the following:

• 
  Employers will be required to pay all fees associated with the caregiver finding employment in Canada and associated with preparing their immigration applications.
  Employers will be required to pay airfare for the caregiver.
• These two changes alone will result in approx $3000-$5000 of additional up front expense for your family when it is time to hire your next caregiver. You will have to pay these fees before she even sets foot in your door, and without any guarantees that she will stay with your family or that her job performance will be satisfactory.

The intention of the government is that the caregiver will not make any financial investment in her efforts to work in Canada. This is a bad policy and will ultimately harm the Canadian families who so desperately need help. When a caregiver has nothing invested in the process, she has no motivation to ensure it is successful. This creates several implications for employers. With nothing invested, she could quit the process while still overseas after you have already waited several months, and you will have to start over again. She could land in Canada and disappear, having made other arrangements with her friends elsewhere. She could work for your family for a month or two, and then give her notice that she is moving elsewhere. And you are the one who will be left to foot the bill.

Canada provides the highest wage rates and the best working conditions for caregivers worldwide. Caregivers also have the opportunity to apply for Permanent Residence after working for two years – other classes of immigrants pay up to $120,000 for that privilege. This is a great place to work and live and is considered the ultimate destination for overseas caregivers. The caregivers should contribute to the costs of obtaining these opportunities for themselves and their families.

What can you do? Write to your government representatives. Tell them how important it is that your family has access to timely and affordable live in care. We will email you a form letter that you can fax or email to the various government departments. We suggest sending it to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Human Resource and Skills Development Canada, your local MP and your local MLA.

Pass along this information to any friends who also have a caregiver. Our government needs to look out for our interests.

We know you are busy, but please take the time to communicate with the government about these planned changes before it is too late. Together we can make a difference.

Please contact our office, preferably via email, and we will be happy to send out the materials for you to use as you see fit. Our government needs to serve the interests of Canadians. Canadian families need faster access to live in caregivers, and should not be asked to incur all expenses upfront. Let’s work together to ensure that the program stays accessible for all Canadian families.

Email: info@aprocaregivers.com http://www.a-procare.com

Live-in Caregiver Program applications HK- post

Note: Application Forms are not available in the Canadian Consulate and must therefore be downloaded from the website.
http://geo.international.gc.ca/asia/hongkong/immigration/nivisa-en.asp

Work Permit Applications for Live-in Caregiver Program
http://geo.international.gc.ca/asia/hongkong/immigration/twapp-en.asp


Third Party submissions will not be accepted. Applicant must submit in person.
Effective July 15, 2008, new office hours will be:

Monday to Thursday: 08:00am to 10:00am
Friday : Closed
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed

Non - Immigrant Application:
Visiting Canada
Studying in Canada
Working in Canada
Photo Specifications (Photos which do not meet these specifications will be rejected)
Fee Schedule

FAQ's by Families

1. Why Choose Us?

EXPERIENCE - A-PRO Caregivers & Nannies Inc enjoy an excellent reputation, we know the players, we know the rules, and we have the necessary practical experience to support our services. We're experienced in handling both your stress and issues when choosing the best care possible.

CREATIVE, PRACTICAL and ACCURATE ADVICE - Knowing the regulations and meeting the families is the easy part of our job. The more difficult aspect is balancing the two in creative and practical ways, to achieve our Families' short and long-term objectives. We take pride in our ability to meet this challenge. Before we give an opinion, or make a recommendation, the legal and practical implications are always considered. The result is that you are put in the position of making an informed and pragmatic decision.

PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS - We encourage our Nannies/Caregivers to seek our advice before problems arise. By helping them take a proactive, preventative approach to Immigration and employment issues, we can save the families time, money and aggravation. We endevour to keep you up-to-date with the current processing times as it becomes known to us.

PERSONAL APPROACH - Our staff are committed to providing individual, personalized service. We take the time to get to know our clients. Once we understand the needs, we tell the client about their options, and our recommendations.

ACCESSIBILITY - We are easily accessible in person (where applicable), by e-mail, or by telephone Mon-Fri 10am-2pm Pacific Standard Time. Extended hours are available by appointment.

VALUE - Our clients need to be able to forecast and control their expenses. Our fees are clearly set out in our Engagement of Services and in our Fees & Refunds Schedule.

NETWORK - Our clients benefit from our good working relationships with many other professionals including lawyers, accountants, realtors, employment or business consultants. We can quickly put you in the hands of other advisors if the need arises.

2. How does A-PRO Caregivers & Nannies (A-PRO) find quality candidates?

Our organization has been successfully bringing together employers and candidates since 2001. A-PRO Caregivers & Nannies represents a diverse group of experienced, skilled and professional private service professionals from around the world. We are proud to work with candidates who refer their sons, daughters and grandchildren to us for placement. Our marketing, advertising and referral programs combined with our established network, allow us to work quickly to fill clients staffing needs with quality candidates.

3. What kind of experience do A-PRO candidates have?

Since 2001, we have been successfully placing experienced candidates. Many candidates have a long term relationship with us. Each time their job comes to an end they return to us for a new position.Candidates are required to have verifiable previous work experience in a home or similar industry. For many years, candidates interested in working in a home could only learn the trade by on the job training. In the past 10 years, schools have opened that now train nannies, and household managers, Candidates will also have transferable experience and training from fields such as education, hospitality and health care.As the employer, your job description will determine the type of experience and background a candidate needs to meet your requirements. Based on your information we will execute a search to match your requirements. Candidates that are not authorized to work in CANADA are not eligible for placement through A-PRO.

4. How Does A-PRO screen candidates?

A-PRO requires all candidates to complete a rigorous pre-screening, personal interview, reference verification and independent background check process. Initially, candidates are pre-screened for work eligibility in CANADA (Overseas caregivers), work history, skill assessment, communication skills, attitude and job preference. If the candidate passes our initial screening they are personally interviewed and individually assessed. Each candidate completes a 12page application which provides us with their personal and work history, work style, education and work preferences.Upon completion of the interview, the candidate's references are checked by phone. You will be provided with detailed reference summaries for review. Local candidates: Criminal background checks are performed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. As there are fees involved for these background checks, they are conducted after a job offer has been made and accepted. Additional background check - driving record when applicable.

5. Does A-PRO have a Registration Fee/Retainer Fee?

NO, A-PRO does not charge a Registration Fee/Retainer Fee to begin your search.

6. What is your agency fee? The fee for our service is due if a candidate is hired, directly or indirectly by an employer who has listed their job opening with our firm. Our placement fee is $1200. Our fee is due upon submission of Service Canada (HRDC) Foreign Worker Job Validation Application to A-PRO. Fees for pre-employment background checks are included in our placement fee after a job offer has been made and accepted. If you're interested in these services prior to hiring a candidate you will be required to pre-pay the fee for these services.

7. Indirect fee: Employers who introduce candidates who have been introduced to the employer by our firm to another employer will be responsible for payment of the placement fee. Our services include an initial phone consultation or on-site consultation.

8. What are the current salary for Nannies/Caregivers? Salary will depend on the experience & education that a Nanny/Caregiver brings. Live-in Caregivers coming from outside Canada can be between $1400-1600 while others who are available locally, between $1500-$1800. Live out Nannies/Caregivers between $1800-$2500+ (View salary)

9. How do I know if the person I hire is the right person for the job?

When you list your job opening with us, your consultant will spend time going over your family needs assessment form. Your consultant will begin formulating a job description, the required personality profile to compliment the household, preferred experience and other details. We will identify and present appropriate candidates for your consideration.

10. Where will A-PRO staff candidates for employment?

Currently we are staffing Live-in childcare and household employees in the British Columbia area only. Geographic placement is concentrated in Vancouver, North Shore, Burnaby and select locations in the South Surrey area, and East to Mission.Nationwide we staff Live-In Nannies and Domestic Helpers by request.

Please fill out our family needs assessment form: your first step.

A-PRO Caregivers & Nannies Inc. Site Links:

HOME
ABOUT US
TESTIMONIALS
CONTACT US
FAMILY REGISTRATION
HIRING OVERSEAS
FEES - WAGES
LIVE-IN CAREGIVER PROGRAM
GETTING THE BEST NANNY & CHILDCARE
CHILDCARE EXPENSE DEDUCTIONS
RESOURCES

Nannies: An affordable option

When most families need a nanny or caregiver they shop the old fashioned way. Some will spend two to three hours calling different agencies from the phone book. Others will place their own ads and then have to deal with many unqualified applicants.

This is where A-PRO Caregivers & Nannies, a nanny agency based in Vancouver, comes into the picture. The company’s goal is to help you focus your search and take the worry and frustration out of the selection process. For most of us, free time is often in short supply. A-PRO will do the legwork for you so you can spend the time doing what you enjoy instead.

"Most families who opt to hire a live-in nanny aren’t even aware of the tremendous advantages that a nanny can bring," says El Apostol, owner of A-PRO Caregivers & Nannies Inc. "A nanny can have a positive effect on the time saved by families."

The advantages of hiring a live-in nanny include:

• Not having to deal with the politics of using a relative;
• Set daily routine of pick-ups and drop-offs;
• Child stays in familiar surroundings;
• Mornings will be less stressful;
• Scheduling is more flexible with a nanny than a daycare centre;
• Household chores can be done during the week, leaving your weekends free.
  

A-PRO helps families find the best in childcare, eldercare or special needs. For more information, call 604-568-7099 or visit http://www.a-procare.com/

***TIP: Deal locally - you'll get better service when you deal with an agency in your Province.