"Canada to Tighten PGWP Rules, Linking Access to Labor Market Needs"

Canada plans to enforce stricter regulations for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP), aiming to better match them with the country's labor market requirements. This move signifies a shift towards a more targeted approach to immigration policies, ensuring that international students contribute effectively to Canada's workforce needs. The tightened rules aim to enhance the alignment between the skills possessed by PGWP holders and the demands of the Canadian job market, fostering economic growth and sustainability.

As the government consults on revisions to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), letters are being dispatched to Canadian provinces. Institutions are being queried: Should this modification be applicable to all graduates immediately upon its announcement?

The situation appears to signal a restriction on unrestricted entry into the labor market upon graduation.

• Stakeholders are being consulted by the government regarding the possibility of protecting students already enrolled in Canadian institutions at the time of the new regulations' implementation.
• The objective behind recalibrating the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is to guarantee that labor market results are closely tied to education and training.
• Programs of study will be categorized to demonstrate connections to occupations facing long-term shortages and to determine eligibility for the Express Entry system.

Boston Brand Media brings you the latest news - The Canadian government has reached out to all provinces seeking input on anticipated modifications to the post-graduate work permit (PGWP) program, which currently benefits all international graduates.

With a clear objective, as stated in the letter, to "align PGWP eligibility with labor market needs while reducing the overall number of PGWP holders," the government is indicating its intention to impose restrictions once consultations conclude.

This raises concerns among current international students: "What is your opinion on applying these labor market-driven changes to PGWP eligibility to all graduates upon announcement this year, instead of exempting students already studying in Canada at the time of implementation?"

If policy adjustments were immediate, it would follow another unexpected decision made in January to cap enrollment numbers for this year.

This could potentially limit students' access to PGWP if their field of study doesn't prepare them for employment in industries experiencing labor shortages.

Other queries directed to provinces (and schools) include: "Which groups of students, if any, should be exempt from these changes?" and "How frequently should the list of occupations facing shortages be updated, and at what stage thereafter should it impact students already pursuing their studies?"

According to one source, there has been a significant increase in the issuance of work permits in Canada over the past eight years, with 949,270 permits issued last year alone, marking a 266% rise.

Boston Brand Media also found that many international graduates are employed in Canada with the hope of gaining enough relevant experience to qualify for permanent residency (PR). However, concerns have been raised by policy analysts like Earl Blaney, who warn of the risk that students working in low-level jobs unrelated to their degrees may not be eligible for PR, potentially leading to a backlog of overstayers.

Blaney suggested to The PIE in 2023 that there could be as many as a million students over the next three years whose access to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) expires, putting them at risk of deportation.

According to the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), by the end of 2023, there were over 1 million international students in Canada across all levels of study. A 2021 survey of students indicated that 72.5% intended to apply for PGWP, and 60% planned to apply for permanent residency thereafter.

An immediate policy change affecting students already established in Canada would come as a shock, although similar rapid decisions have occurred in the UK and Australia. In the UK, the post-study work route was restricted in April 2012 but later reintroduced in 2019. In Australia, 20,000 skilled immigration applications were cancelled in 2010 due to outdated regulations.

In Canada, Blaney cautioned against making drastic moves without "grandfathering" current international students if PGWP rules change regarding employment and residency. He emphasized the need for stability in the system and warned that implementing significant changes without proper notice could damage the confidence of prospective students and impact future enrollments.

For questions or comments write to writers@bostonbrandmedia.com

Source: thepienews‍