April 29th 2024 Ottawa, Ontario - Today, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship , Marc Miller, announced the permanent extension of international student working hours from 20 hours per week to 24 hours, starting on September 1st, 2024. The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) thanks the Minister for an improvement on the 20-hour status quo ante, but students are disappointed that the pilot of international-domestic work-hour parity was not extended, and with characterizations of the capacity of international students. CASA brings forth recommendations to ameliorate some of the impacts of this change.
The 24-hour limit will mean fewer international students from lower socio-economic backgrounds have the ability to receive an education in Canada. Amidst rising prices, ensuring all students can afford to earn money from a job during their studies is a key way to improve affordability for students, and international students across Canada are disappointed the change was so minimal from the current 20-hour level.
Some of the minister’s claims regarding international student performance and sustainable workloads are inconsistent with data CASA collected in 2023 showing equal academic outcomes between international and domestic students. We look forward to sharing this information with the government, and will continue advocacy for a more equitable work-hour limit.
“On average, after today’s announcement over 200,000 international students will lose at least $5,000 from their pocket annually,” said Mateusz Salmassi, CASA’s Director of Advocacy. “The reality is that most students - domestic and international - need to work during their studies to support themselves. Taking away international students’ ability to choose their number of hours limits their options when it comes to addressing their struggles related to the high cost of living while studying in Canada.”
There remains work to be done for international students in the workplace. CASA will continue to maintain close contact with the minister’s office and the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship as we advocate for international students and their fair treatment in the workplace, including working hour reform, advocacy on protecting students from malicious employers, and removing unnecessary paperwork involved with co-op terms.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Canadian Alliance of Student Associations
Max Greer
Communications and Creative Content Officer
(289)-214-8608