Helping Live-In Caregivers

A ban on recruitment fees is among a series of new protections for foreign live-in caregivers in Ontario that comes into effect today.

Under the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act, the province is providing expanded protections for some of Ontario's most vulnerable workers.

New protections for workers include:

• A ban on all fees charged to live-in caregivers by recruiters, either directly or indirectly, or by anyone on behalf of a recruiter.
• Preventing employers from recovering, directly or indirectly, recruitment and placement costs from live-in caregivers.
• Prohibiting the practice of taking a caregiver's personal documents such as a passport and work permit.
• Prohibiting reprisals against caregivers for exercising their rights under the legislation.

Live-in caregivers will also get more information about their rights and Ministry of Labour inspectors will have more authority to investigate violations based on tips. All of these steps will help curb the abuse of foreign nationals who come to Ontario to work, including the practice of collecting placement fees for bogus job offers.