Helper wants to work in Canada

P

premama

Registered User
Hi,

I am relocating this summer and my helper (who we've had for over 4 years) told me she wants to try and work in Canada. As we're very fond of her, we would like to do everything we can to help secure her a job there with a family who would treat her well. Does anyone have any experience with this and know what the procedures are?

Thanks!
 
There are a lot of agencies here in HK. Most of them are setup to suck as much money out of the helper as possible - all sorts of processing fees etc. Processing fees can run around $40K and more.

Would recommend that you research this. The Canadian govt and a few non profits have some excellent resources.

This being the best place to start - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/caregiver/index.asp
 
Shri - I don't want to accuse you of deleting my post as I am not 100% sure that I hit the post button, but I am pretty sure that I posted a reply which has been deleted. I'd be grateful if you would advise whether it is Geobaby's policy that we are not supposed to ever mention the name of your rival website which does have a helper agency? I think if this is a rule, you should make it clear.
 
I deleted it as it had no real information". Call Evelyn on AsiaXpat has absolutely no useful information. I like to think that the first reply should have some information which the user can act on immediately and gain something from it.

Am in the process of cleaning up a few posts and threads here to raise the signal to noise ratio.
 
I think you'll have your work cut out for you if you are going to delete every post with no useful information. Why would talking to someone in an agency that does Canadian placements be not useful?
 
our helper of just under 6 years relocated to canada about 3 weeks ago.

there used to be hefty agency charges for the helper, but as of apirl (?) last year, the canadian gov't passed regulations/laws requiring the EMPLOYER to pay ALL fees.

our helper is working in calgary for a family with 2 kids (5 & 7). after food allowance, CPP, tax and employment insurance is deducted, she gets about $1200 CAD/month (right now, the exchange is at par with the USD). she is working from 7am-7pm -ish, 5 days/week.

to get the job, she basically contacted one of the agencies. she had a few telephone/skype interviews and then decided on one family. the agency then took care of everything. i had a look at the contract and explained the various provisions and what htey meant to her and then provided a reference letter for her detailing her duties and her performance.
 
ps> as far as i know, evelyn doesn't do overseas placements. i tried using her when hiring our former helper's husband, who was at that time located in saudi arabia but quit his job and moved back to PH.
 
Cara - She does Canadian placements or at least she did 2 years ago. My former helper was interviewing through her and I spoke to her about the Canadian families that she had interviewed with and whether they would want a reference from me. I also ran into her at the Canadian consulate with a whole pile of visa applications that she was submitting. My former helper decided not to go in the end because her husband did not approve. You must miss your old helper a lot as you had spoken so highly of her in the past!
 
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maybe she does canadian ones then, but not ones from PH...

actually, although we enjoyed having her around, i'm surprised how little we really miss her. we are spending a lot more time with our kids and getting them involved in the running of hte house (they LOVE to do laundry!) and helping out with the cooking. we may have to suck it up and get another helper in a few months as i think i'm going to be opening another branch of my playgroup and i just won't have time to do it all...either get another helper or put the two kids into full-day school for a few months.
 
that's right, she has told me they have counterpart agencies in Canada but none in the Philippines, so they cannot help you process a DH contract for someone who is in the Philippines
 
Thanks for your comments.

Cara - do you remember what the agency was called? I've found a couple on the Internet but not sure if they are reliable/trustworthy...
 
no, i don't, but my helper is a "friend" on facebook and we still talk to her... i'll ask her and let you know.
 
If helpers want to relocate to Canada, do they have to go through an agency? Can it be done without going through one? The reason I'm asking is I'm actually in Toronto and I'm going back to work very soon. If the price tag of getting a helper is comparable to putting my son in daycare, it might be something I may consider.
 
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i believe that the monthly cost of hiring a helper is comparable to daycare, BUT as the employer, there are a lot of hoops you have to jump through first. it takes about 3-6 months from start to finish, so if you are going to work again soon, you better get a move on it. and, yes, i believe you have to go through an agency.
 
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