The Economic and Social Integration of Immigrant Live-in Caregivers in Canada

Transcription

1 The Economic and Social Integration of Immigrant Live-in Caregivers in Canada Jelena Atanackovic 1 & Ivy Lynn Bourgeault 2 1 McMaster University, 2 University of Ottawa

2 Introduction The Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP) - a special stream of the general Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP), which is established to solve the specific labour shortage in Canada the lack of people willing to reside in private residences and care for people (children or elderly) in these households There were 3,443 people admitted under the program in 2007 (CIC, 2008). By 2011, the number of live-in caregivers rose to even 5, 033 (CIC, 2011).

3 Changes introduced to the LCP in 2010 For all LCP LMO applications received by HRSDC/SC on or after April 1, 2010, the signed written employment contract between live-in caregivers and their employers must demonstrate that LCP requirements are met by including a description of: mandatory employer-paid benefits, including: transportation to Canada from the live-in caregiver s country of permanent residence or their country of habitual residence to the location of work in Canada medical insurance coverage provided from the date of the live-in caregiver s arrival until he or she is eligible for provincial health insurance workplace safety insurance coverage for the duration of employment all recruitment fees, including any amounts payable to a third-party recruiter or agents hired by the employer that would otherwise have been charged to the live-in caregiver job duties hours of work wages accommodation arrangements (including room and board) holiday and sick leave entitlements termination and resignation terms (CIC, 2010).

4 What Do We Know About Economic and Social Integration of Immigrant Live-in Caregivers in Canada? Most of the available research was done before changes that were introduced to LCP in Available research fails to differentiate among different types of care giving (elders, children), thus failing to explore how these different types of care arrangements impact on caregivers experiences.

5 Research Questions Thus, in our research we address: 1) the economic and social integration experiences of live in caregivers (LICs) during the program, with a specific focus on: 1.1) whether the changes that were introduced into Live-in Caregiver Program in 2010 have changed their economic and social integration experiences? If so, how? 1.2) how do the working and living conditions of LCP workers differ according to the type of care they provide (childcare, elderly care).

6 Data Collection 1 st study conducted in 2007 in QC, ON and BC- 12 interviews and two focus groups with LICs 2 nd study conducted post 2010 in the province of Ontario- 34 interviews with LICs 3 rd study still in progress- so far 5 interviews with LICs and five with key policy informants

7 Data Analysis Each taped interview was transcribed verbatim with participants approval. A coding scheme was developed and subsequently applied using NUDIST, a qualitative data analysis program for coding.

8 Economic Integration: Impact of Status as Participants in the Program Live-in requirement creates power imbalance between employer and employee, making it hard to negotiate between employer and employee (Key Informant 3). Having temporary status in Canada puts live-in caregivers in the position to be exposed, vulnerable to abuse (Key Informant 2).

9 Economic Integration: Impact of Status as Participants in the Program Cont. Live-in caregiver program, it s an unfair program for me because at that time, I was not allowed to go to school. If I go to school, I have to apply for an international visa, a student visa. And being an international student, you have to pay 3 times the cost of the regular fee. So for me, being under the program, it was a bit unfair for me because for 2 years, my brain was drained. I didn t have... Like the only way for me to learn is just reading books or going to the library or going to those high school courses. So it was... If a caregiver can go to school after their work, I think that would be good enough for me ( a Filipino live-in caregiver 36).

10 Social Integration: The Impact of Status as Participants in the Program Well, sometimes. You know, because your family is back home and there are times. There are times that you really feel isolated. You know, this is not our country. There s not much of me time. You know, it s always work, work and more concentrated on earning money and sending it back home. Well, I cannot be... I won t feel... Isolation for me is always going to be there as long as my family is not here. You know, it s different( a current Filipino live-in child caregiver 35).

11 Differences in the Working Experiences according to the Type of Care And then the elderly if you, if you treat them nice too they will appreciate everything that you do. Sometimes they appreciate your cooking. They will call you rather than their daughters or sisters, their relatives. Maybe they will ask you for a help, not them. So it s nice (a former Filipino live-in elder caregiver 9).

12 Differences in the Working Experiences according to the Type of Care Cont. Care specific challenges Childcare: kids behavioural and disciplinary issues, need to make quick decisions Eldercare: dementia, depression, aphasia Alzheimer s disease, death.

13 Differences in the Living Experiences according to the Type of Care No, I m not because, you know, it s elderly couple. They need me all the time. So I m not allowed (a current Filipino live-in elder caregiver 20).

14 Policy Implications In order to improve the economic and social integration of immigrant live-in caregivers while under the program: 1) constraining elements of the LCP- temporary migration status, live-in requirement and prohibition against bringing family members could be removed or modified; OR 2) The laws that would recognize that the home of the employer hiring live-in caregiver is a workplace could be introduced instead.

15 Policy Implications Cont. 3) Policy interventions should be sensitive to the type of care For instance, live-in elder caregivers could be given more time to meet requirement for permanent residency.