Foreigners who are employed as live-in caregivers in Canadamay benefit from a new federal policy that lessens the procedures needed in obtaining permanent residency. Under the new rule, live in caregivers no longer have to pass a second medical examination as part of the requirement to be given a permanent residence status. Gaining the status of being a permanent resident is important because it gives individuals the privilege to bring their family to Canada.

Previously, caregivers employed in Canada had to go through two medical examinations, one before they are actually deployed and second when they apply for permanent residency. This makes the process both expensive and time consuming.

The realization that earlier rules need to be changed was encouraged with the sad story of a caregiver who was diagnosed with cancer while employed in Canadaand the rigorous procedure she had to go through just to be given a permanent residency status.

She was Juana Tejada, a Filipina caregiver in Toronto who was diagnosed with colon cancer. She failed in the second medical test when she applied for permanent residency and was advised to leave Canada with the reason that she is a burden to the health sector.

Tejada fought for her right to stay and in the end her campaign truly paid off. She was granted the right to stay on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Much more than that, Tejada became an eye opener to the government that there is something wrong with the current caregiver program.

Outlined to Canwest News Service, the new policies also aim to review if the conditions stated in the Federal Live-In Caregiver Program of Canada are truly beneficial for the foreign caregivers. This is in lieu of reports that the number of unhappy live-in caregivers are growing at an alarming arte. The caregiver program that started in 1992 is said to be ineffective in protecting caregivers from abuse.

Under the new policy, live-in caregivers can apply for residency after completing 3900 hours of work. This is equal to a standard workweek for two years. However since most caregivers work beyond the standard working hours, many will earn the eligibility to be granted a permanent status even before the two years is through. This possibility is acknowledged in the new policy.

Nevertheless, some caregivers may find it difficult to complete the required work hours due to unavoidable circumstances that may interrupt work periods such as pregnancy and job loss. Because of this the deadline in completing work-hours is extended from three to four years in the new rule.

Canada is one of the favorite destinations of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and most of them are employed in the areas of Toronto and Vancouver. Many are employed as live in caregivers for children, disabled and elderly Canadians.