Now, international students in Canada can work off-campus over 20 hrs per week

Ottawa (Canada), October 8: Giving a major relief to international students in Canada, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced a major reform under which foreign students will be allowed to work over 20 hours per week off-campus while class is in session. Though a temporary measure for now, it will come into effect from November 15, 2022, and continue until December 31, 2023. As per information, this temporary measure will be applicable to foreign nationals who have already submitted a study permit application. They will also be able to take the benefit of this policy if immigration, refugees and citizenship Canada approves their application. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said the decision aimed at overcoming labour shortage across Canada. As per data, Canada’s unemployment rate fell to 5.2 per cent in September, down from 5.4 per cent in August. At present, international students who apply to study in an eligible Canadian educational programme may get authorised to work off-campus during their studies for up to 20 hours per week. However, amid one million job vacancies, the Canadian government has decided to ease this rule for the time being. Also Read | Deaths of Indian prisoners in Pak jails alarming; 6 died in last 9 months: MEA Fraser says this "measure will allow over 500,000 eligible international students already in Canada to potentially work more hours". "Canada has already processed more than 452,000 study permit applications between January and August of 2022, a 23 per cent increase compared to the 367,000 processed over the same period in 2021. As such, Canada has already broken the record it set last year for study permits processed in a calendar year," said Fraser. Also Read | Punjab regularises services of 9,000 contractual teachers; notification issued -PTC News with inputs from social media