Care Workers - Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

Oct 22 2025Care Workers Farm Workers Fishery Workers Migrant Students

November Assembly: Immigration Levels Plan & Important Updates for Migrants!

What do you need to know about the upcoming Immigration Levels Plan, the federal budget and long immigration processing times? Are there more raids? What about expiring permits? How does all this impact you?

Join November’s Migrant Assembly to discuss all these updates and hear how migrants like you are taking action to fight the cuts. This assembly is led by migrants – don’t get scammed by immigration consultants and other people who want to make money off of our struggles by spreading misinformation.

Sunday November 9, 2025

Hybrid meeting, for migrants only

In-person, with dinner

Toronto, 6:00 PM

Online

Vancouver, 3:30 PM
Calgary, 4:30 PM
Atlantic, 7:30 PM

Jul 11 2025Care Workers

Workshop & Meeting for Migrant Care Workers Waiting for or Denied PR

WHAT: Workshop and Meeting for Migrant Care Workers to:

Learn about your immigration options
Discuss how being denied Permanent Residency has affected us
Come up with strategies and plans to tell the new Minister of Immigration to ensure permanent resident status for all Migrant Care Workers.

WHEN: Sunday, August 3, 1:00 PM

WHERE: Toronto (exact location shared after RSVP)

FREE LUNCH & POTLUCK: This meeting will include free lunch, but it’s a potluck, feel free to bring snacks, but not required

Why should you join the meeting on August 3?

On March 31, 2025, the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot opened — and closed just 4.5 hours later. Thousands of Migrant Care Workers like you who had prepared for months were left out. Others could not apply because of the difficult and exclusionary rules.

Some of us Migrant Care Workers couldn’t access the portal, or others applied using the alternate form but have already received denial emails.

Did this happen to you?

Website crashed while applying?
Paid for the application, English tests, transcripts, or translations or other documents but couldn’t apply?
Having trouble getting a refund?
Losing your status — or already lost it?
Couldn’t even apply because of unfair rules?

You’re not alone — and it’s not your fault. The system failed you. Now it’s time to come together. We need to raise our voices and make sure that all of us have Permanent Residency so we can be with our families and live with safety and security.

Let’s turn frustration into action — and make sure no one is left behind again.

Fill out this form to get the address, and please share this with others who were left out.

Jun 9 2025Care Workers

On June 16, make a call for Status for Care Workers!

June 16 is International Domestic Workers Day. Join care workers in calling the new Immigration Minister, Lena Diab, to demand the reopening of the Care Worker Program — without caps and without unfair requirements.

Care workers look after Canadian children, the elderly, and the sick. Many have left their own families behind to do this essential work.

For decades, care workers have fought for permanent residency and basic rights — and they won. But the government responded with a limited, unfair program full of barriers and a cap on applications.

Then, on March 31, that program closed in just 4.5 hours, leaving tens of thousands of care workers shut out and at risk of deportation.

This is unfair — and care workers won’t be silent.

Sign up now to make a call on June 16. Let’s flood the Immigration Minister’s phone lines to demand Status for All!

Feb 14 2025Care Workers

Basic Steps: DIY Workshop for the New Caregiver Program

Although the full details of the new caregiver program are yet to be announced, we’re here to make sure you are well-prepared for the basic steps. Join us as we support each other through this process and stay informed about the latest updates.

This workshop will guide you through the initial steps of preparing your application, what documents you might need, and how to start organizing your materials. Our goal is to support you while preparing.

Details:

Date: February 23, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: 720 Spadina Ave, Suite 219, Toronto, M5S 2T9

United We Are Stronger!

Jan 29 2025Care Workers

Free, Fast & Legit Info About the New Caregiver Program

We are migrant care workers, just like you, and we are here to make sure caregivers get real, trustworthy information—without scams or delays.

The federal government has announced the new Caregiver Program will open on March 31, 2025—something we have fought for years! But the details haven’t been released yet, and greedy consultants are already spreading false information to take your money.

Sign up now for free, fast & legit updates:

✅ Get a step-by-step guide on how to prepare now—before the program is announced.
✅ Be the first to know when applications open, with clear instructions on how to apply.
✅ Join an online support meeting with other caregivers to help each other through the process.

Don’t let scammers take your money! Fill out the form now and share it with your friends who needs accurate information.

Jan 16 2025Care Workers Farm Workers Fishery Workers Migrant Students Trabajador@s Agrícolas

Another victory: Itzel won over $2,000 from Employment Insurance (EI) while she was laid off.

In 2023, while working on a closed work permit in New Brunswick’s fishery sector, Itzel faced unexpected layoffs due to a lobster shortage. This is a common issue in the Atlantic fishery sector, leaving hundreds of workers without income and having to put food on their tables and pay rent.

When Itzel was denied unemployment insurance, she refused to accept it. With the support of our organization, the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, she fought for her rights and ultimately won over $2,000 in EI benefits.

Itzel’s victory shows that we can win when we stand united and fight for their rights.

She encourages all workers to join the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change and fight for our rights!

United, we are stronger!

Nov 1 2024Care Workers Farm Workers Fishery Workers Migrant Students

Is your work permit expiring? Sign up to hear about your options!

If you have an expired or expiring work permit (post-graduate, LMIA, employer-sponsored, spousal, refugee), sign up to get more information about your rights and immigration options.

Immigration laws are changing fast and you’re not alone! By the end of 2024, more than 200,000 post-graduate work permits (PGWP) and nearly 1.2 million total permits will expire. Already, many graduated international students and migrant workers are being fired, laid off or working for cash because their work permits cannot be renewed.

It shouldn’t be this way – all workers should be able to work with rights and protections. Together, we can win fairness.

Oct 1 2024Care Workers Farm Workers Fishery Workers Migrant Students

Become a member

The Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC) is an organization for and by migrants. We are uniting to win rights at work and immigration justice.

Our members are migrants only! This means you are currently or were recently in Canada without permanent resident status.

By becoming a member, you will learn more about your rights as a worker, have access to support, build your leadership skills and be part of our movement to ensure rights and justice for all. Members participate in monthly meetings, as well as online and in-person activities and become part of a supportive community of workers & friends.

Members believe in building our collective power and being in solidarity with workers speaking up for justice anywhere in the world. See below for the list of responsibilities and benefits of becoming a member!

Fill out the membership form to apply to be a member and we will be in touch! You are only a member after you attend a membership orientation.

Membership Form

Member Responsibilities

Attend at least 6 out of 12 meetings per year (either in-person or online);
Receive regular communication and respond to them
Participate in regular trainings, events and activities;
Outreach to other workers, and invite them to be part of our movement; and
Represent the collective voice of migrants and Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

Member Benefits

You join a community of migrant leaders fighting for change;
Get invited to special events and receive support from others in a similar situation;
Opportunities to speak to elected officials, decision-makers and the media;
Get priority support (attention) if you are facing problem or if you are being treated unfairly;
Get free workshops and training on topics such as workplace rights; immigration issues; taxes and Employment Insurance; accessing health care and social support systems; and collective organizing 101.

Jun 28 2024Care Workers

Migrant Caregivers Picnic

Come and join us on Sunday, July 7 from 12 – 4PM at Dufferin Grove Park, just in front of Dufferin Mall. Let’s talk about the new program and what still needs to be done over food and drinks. We will also hear from some of the former careworkers and other organizers about the journey on how we got the new program. There will be music, food and drinks and you are encourage to bring your friends and co workers.

May 9 2024Care Workers

Caregivers Mother’s Day Potluck and Action Planning Meeting

Mother’s Day is here, and many of us migrant caregivers will be spending it alone without our families. We are worried that we will not be reunited with them if the caregiver pathway programs end in June 2024. This is not fair!

Join us and other migrant caregivers like you this Sunday, May 12 at 12pm for an in-person action planning meeting to make decisions about how we want to raise our voices for justice and permanent residency status for all!

Worker type: Care Workers