TORONTO: International students in Canada who have off-campus work authorization on their study permits say the country should permanently remove the 20-hour work per week rule.
The Canadian government had announced the temporary lifting of the cap from November 15, 2022 to December 31, 2023 as employers face unprecedented challenges in finding and retaining workers needed for the post-COVID economic recovery.
According to the students, many of whom are from India, working more hours gives them stability amid rising costs in the country, CBC News reports.
Krunal Chavda, a 20-year-old Indian student at the University of Saskatchewan, said he has about $40,000 in student loans and has been able to pay off $10,000 with full-time work.
“Last year was pretty good in terms of finances because I was able to work 40 hours a week and pay my tuition fees,” Chavda told the Canadian news outlet.
With the return of the previous rule, Chavda is worried about her finances as her grocery budget has increased from $100 to $300 per month due to inflation.
Most post-secondary international students are permitted to work on and/or off campus, with their authorization to work printed directly on their study permit.
In the past, approximately half of post-secondary international students in Canada reported earning an income during their studies.
“I’ve found myself in situations where I’ve said, ‘Okay, should I buy it or not?’ It basically depends on needs and not wants,” he said.
Chavda’s classmate Meghal said, “There is a lot of uncertainty and anxiety in the air. We are on the edge… it is becoming more difficult to keep up.”
Domenici Medina, an international student at the University of Ecuador, told CBC that the extra money earned “helps with medical appointments, like the dentist, that are not covered by the university’s insurance”.
Medina said making the rule permanent would impact his “well-being and mental health.”
Karandeep Singh Sanghera, student union president at Capilano University in North Vancouver, said international students like him are feeling the pressure of the housing market.
“Most students have to work for minimum wage, which is around $16 right now. It is not possible to make ends meet by working 20 hours in this situation,” said Sanghera, who shares a three-occupancy space with five people.
The demand from students comes as Canada grapples with a severe cost of living and housing crisis, with nearly seven million people struggling to put food on the table, according to a recently released Food Banks Canada report .
According to media reports, many international students have to share beds and single rooms, and some face homelessness or sleep under bridges.
The Immigration Department said in an email statement to CBC that it is assessing the impact of the policy, and will let the public know if there are any changes to the current plan.
Canada welcomed more than 800,000 international students last year, and the country is on track to welcome 900,000 international students in 2023, according to Immigration Minister Mark Miller.
According to Immigration Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC), international students contribute more than $22.3 billion per year to the Canadian economy.
Nearly four out of every 10 foreign students are Indian students.
