The federal government in Ottawa is lifting the 20-hour-a-week limit placed on the number of hours international students can work to help alleviate Canada’s chronic labour shortage.
Federal Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser cited Canada's current unemployment rate of 5.2% and a need to fill nearly one million jobs when announcing that the work hour limit on foreign students is being canceled.
The new policy is set to run from November 15 through the end of 2023 and only applies to students studying full-time at a Canadian post-secondary institution.
Students have said that the 20-hour a week work limit, which amounts to part-time employment, made them vulnerable to exploitation because many end up working longer hours without adequate pay and labour protections.
Minister Fraser also announced a pilot project to automate approvals of study permit extension applications that aim to address a backlog within Canada’s higher education system.
Canada has become increasingly dependent on temporary labour to fill job gaps, including among international students.
Minister Fraser said the federal government is working on improving pathways to permanent residency status for international students as well as undocumented immigrants
