Live in Caregiver Program
The Live-in Caregiver Program has existed in its current form since 1994. Its purpose is to supply a need for caregivers that cannot be met by the Canadian labour force alone.
The need is primarily for caregivers for children, but also for the elderly and disabled people. The caregivers live in the employer’s home. Caregivers (largely women) come to Canada on temporary work permits; the incentive is that if they successfully complete two years of care giving within three years of arriving in Canada, they may apply for permanent residence.
To qualify as a caregiver, applicants must have completed the equivalent of a Canadian secondary school education, and have either trained for 6 months in a classroom setting or worked for 12 months in a care-giving position. They must also have a sufficient level of official language ability.
There is also a requirement for a written contract of employment between employers and caregivers. This is an attempt by the government to respond to numerous reports of exploitation by employers; it remains a fact, however, that caregivers residing in their employers’ homes are a potentially vulnerable group.
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