Indian students in Canada face financial strain due to a new rule restricting off-campus work to 24 hours a week. The students now trying to find money to stay in Toronto are feeling squeezed since the new laws come into effect this week.
Last week, students were allowed to work more than twenty hours on their jobs as pandemic situations came to an end. This was done to fill jobs that were missing. They can do only twenty-four hours of work now except during the holidays like summer and winter times when there are no limits.
Out of over 550000 students from different countries, 226000 come from India. They work jobs as gig employees. Jobs off campus assist Indian students pay for groceries and housing costs.
Due to the new rule, they can only work up to three 8-hour shifts per week. This makes it hard for them to afford their expenses. The Canadian government has set the minimum wage at 17.36 dollars an hour. In 2023, the pay rate was 16.65 dollars per hour. But, the 24-hour work limit may make it difficult to cover living costs in expensive cities like Toronto.
STUDENTS’ CONCERNS AND ADJUSTMENTS
A student in Toronto, Neeva Phatarphekar, is worried about her rent, groceries, travel under the new rules.
“It’s tough with rent, getting groceries, eating out with friends and travelling,” she says.
To save costs, she has moved in with friends instead. Neeva switched from public relations to brand management at a different school.
Deepa Mattoo, a lawyer, states that foreign students have to work to support themselves.
Some kids need part-time jobs for money. There must be fair help for everyone, Mattoo told CBC.
Moshe Lander, Concordia U. professor, wonders if 24 hrs is enough to study.
As a teacher, I worry about 24 hrs. It may not let students focus on classes, Lander told CBC.
This could hurt the education quality. Students might work more than study.