Canada plans to reinstate a 20-hour work week limit for international students after December 31, leaving many worried about their ability to pay for tuition and living expenses.
Due to a shortage of human resources, the Canadian government allows international students to work unlimited hours, starting in November 2022. Thanks to that, Krunal Chavda, 20 years old, an international student at the University of Saskatchewan, has paid off CAD 10,000 of his CAD 40,000 (VND 720 million) tuition loan.
"I can work 40 hours/week. Thanks to that, my financial resources are more abundant," Krunal shared.
For students still supported by their families, like Domenici Medina, an Ecuadorian, working part-time is still necessary, as her tuition has tripled. The extra income also helps Demoenici pay for dental checkups, which are not covered by her school insurance.
However, the above regulation will expire after December 31, meaning that from 2024, international students will be limited to working 20 hours per week.
University of Toronto campus, Canada. Photo: University of Toronto
The return to the previous rule worries Krunal. Due to inflation, his grocery spending alone is now $300 CAD per month, triple what it was before.
“There was a sense of uncertainty and anxiety. It was becoming increasingly difficult to sustain life,” said Meghal, Krunal’s classmate.
In addition, in 2023, the average tuition fee for international students will be CAD 38,000 (VND 685 million) per year, 6% higher than last year and 5 times the CAD 7,000 of domestic students, according to Statistics Canada.
"Most international students are currently working for a minimum wage of $16 an hour. So we can't survive if we only work 20 hours a week," said Karandeep Singh Sanghera, president of the student union at Capilano University in Vancouver.
In addition, many employers are requiring students to work longer hours. Doris Yim, a pharmacy student, was applying for a pharmacy cashier position. However, the employer said they wanted someone who could work full-time during the holidays. With a 20-hour overtime limit, Doris could not get a job.
International students are not receiving any support beyond tuition loans, according to James Casey, a policy analyst at the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). To cope with the cost of living and housing crisis, many students are turning to food banks, sharing accommodation, or even going without a place to live.
Therefore, not only international students, many organizations also call on the government to change its policy on overtime hours.
Responding to CBC News via email on November 27, the Canadian Immigration Department said it is assessing the impact and number of international students who will benefit from the unlimited overtime policy, then will make a final decision.
Last year, Canada had 807,750 international students, up nearly 30% from 2021. However, their rights are being undermined, from processing of admission letters, to lack of suitable accommodation and work permit fraud.
Huy Quan (According to CBC News, CTV News, Canadian Immigration News)
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