Get involved in the action to renew PGWP, increase PR!

PGWP workers with expired and expiring permits are uniting on an (1) electoral strategy, and (2) Solutions, not Scapegoats media strategy. Read more about the strategy, political opportunities below, and join the fight for immigration justice!

Our plan of action

We have a joint media and electoral strategy to respond to the political moment we’re in. We must create political pressure, and shift the public narrative that is blaming migrants and international students for the housing and job crisis. 

🔹 Electoral Strategy: On April 28, 2025, there will be a federal election. We’ll push candidates in our ridings to take a stand on permit renewals and increasing permanent residency programs.

🔹 “Solutions, Not Scapegoats” Media Campaign: We’ll share our stories to challenge the narrative that immigrants are to blame for economic issues.

Our Political Opportunities

âś… Using the elections to push on immigration justice: The federal elections are April 28, 2025. From now until then, candidates from political parties want to win a seat in their riding. We need a coordinated strategy that is effective on multiple levels, and scale our power up. Candidates will be doing campaign events in each of our ridings, like townhalls, all-candidate debates and more. We are part of their constituent base, even though we cannot vote. We can raise how cuts to immigration hurt all working people in the country, have knock-on effects on the economy and communities, and demand they take a stand on immigration justice.

âś… Exposing contradictions: More and more, working-class Canadians must realize we are not the problem, and that cuts to immigration hurt them too. Many critical sectors like education, healthcare and childcare, are already falling apart because so many of us have to leave jobs when our permits expire. Employers are also using this as an excuse to layoff other workers and lower standards for all of us.

âś… Building unity: We have support from allies in major unions, healthcare and immigration organizations, who know that racism and xenophobia are not the answer. More will recognize this is a shared fight. 

We can bring in more of our coworkers, friends, and neighbours. We need both unity and strength in numbers.

Every day, 3,000 permits expire—we can’t afford to stay silent.

The issue and why it’s happening

Our permits are expired / expiring, the requirements for Express Entry programs are restrictive, the minimum cut off scores have been high and the draws for Canadian Experience Class are infrequent. Category-based selection has also let the government cherrypick who gets permanent residency and who doesn’t. 

We’re impacted by the massive cuts to permanent residency programs. Provincial programs have been cut by 55%. Some streams of PNP are closing overnight, and they’re suddenly saying our jobs no longer qualify. They want us to fight and compete with each other. But permanent residency and our rights should not be like the hunger games.

We’re in a global economic crisis. At the same time, some people – politicians, corporate employers and landlords – are making record-breaking profits, while the majority of us are struggling to make ends meet. They need somebody to blame. Over the last 18 months, migrants have been scapegoated for the housing crisis, taking jobs, lowering wages and working conditions, causing inflation – this is simply not true. Racism and xenophobia are meant to divide and distract us.

Public opinion on immigration has shifted. In response, the federal government walked back on promises and instead cut permits and immigration, which adds to more scapegoating. It’s a vicious cycle. But when our rights are under attack, we must fight back.

International Students Community Mixer @York!

Frustrated by the constant immigration rule changes? Worried about cuts at school and bad bosses at work? Just want to share a meal with other international students? Join other current and former international students standing together against unfair policies and scapegoating!

Join us at the YUGSA Conference Room (Room 430), First Student Centre on Tuesday, March 18th from 4:30 p.m to 6 p.m

Calling all Seneca International Students! Join Seneca at York’s upcoming Know Your Rights workshop for school and work.

International Students and Workers, Stand Up for Justice with MWAC!

Confused by the immigration rule changes? Got problems at work? Come learn your rights and speak to current and former international students standing up together against these unfair policies

Join us from 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m on Friday, February 21st at Seneca College – York.

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!

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.

Victory: International Students Beat Exclusionary Rule Changes!

As a result of our collective action, international students in college programs will NOT be denied post-graduate work permits based on their field of study. University and college graduates will still have to meet the language requirements, but the reversal of the field of study requirement is a massive win for working-class migrants and students. 

Almost 2000 letters were sent to the federal government calling on them to stop the injustice. Together, we prove that when we take action together, we can win changes. Read more about what happened and what the latest update is, as of October 4, 2024.

What happened?

Over the past 12 months, there has been a barrage of changes to immigration rules that capped and slashed rights for current and former international students. On September 18, 2024, the federal government announced more caps, and changed the rules in the middle of the game by restricting post-graduate work permit (PGWP) eligibility. These undemocratic changes would have affected hundreds of us who are already living, studying, and working here.

Originally, the federal government said that starting November 1st, 2024:

  • International students in college programs will NOT be eligible for PGWP unless we are studying in an industry that Canada wants;
  • Students in universities and colleges will have to get high language scores to apply for a work permit: CLB 7 for university, and CLB 5 for college;
  • More family separation and refusal of spousal open work permits;
  • Instead of more support for international students, more caps on how many can come in 2025, including those in Master’s or PhD programs.

What did we win on October 4, 2024?

When these changes were announced, we immediately called for all those who are already in the country or have applied to study permits to be “grandfathered in” under the original rules. Thousands jumped into action, and on October 4, 2024, the federal government partially reversed the changes. Now, the PGWP eligibility is as follows, and you can read the updates on the government’s website here.

For international students who are already studying in Canada or have applied for a study permit BEFORE November 1, 2024:

  • Students in public college diploma programs are eligible for post-graduate work permits under the original rules. This means that even if your program is not on the field of study list, you can get a work permit. You have been grandfathered in;
  • Students in university programs, such as bachelor’s, master’s or PhD programs, do NOT have to meet the field of study requirement. You are exempt;
  • Students in universities and colleges will STILL have to get high language scores to apply for work permits: CLB 7 for university, and CLB 5 for college;
  • If you are in flight school, these requirements DO NOT apply to you. You are exempt.

For international students who will apply for a study permit ON or AFTER November 1, 2024:

  • Students in public colleges must graduate in one of the following five fields of study to be eligible for the post-graduate work permit: (1) agriculture and agri-food, (2) healthcare, (3) science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), (4) trade, and (5) transport. You can see a list of courses titles that the government says qualifies for these fields of study here;
  • Students in university programs, such as bachelor’s degree, master’s degrees or PhD, do NOT have to meet the field of study requirement to qualify for post-graduate work permits. You are exempt;
  • Students in universities and colleges will have to get high language scores to apply for work permits: CLB 7 for university, and CLB 5 for college.

If you still have questions and/or want 1-on-1 support, please contact our free and confidential information hotline here: MigrantWorkersAlliance.org/MSUHotline

What’s next?

Still, immigration caps are separating families, the most recent minimum points needed for permanent residency for the Canadian Experience Class was 509 (impossibly high), and more than 200,000 post-graduate work permits will expire by the end of 2024 and next year. 

Working people in Canada, including international students and migrants, are going through some of the hardest moments of our lives. At the same time, the richest few in the country are getting richer. These same people own grocery monopolies, housing corporations, push down working conditions for all of us, and are friends with politicians.

The federal government is threatening to cut permanent residency numbers for the Immigration Levels Plan set to be announced on November 1st. When we see politicians legitimizing this blame-game and attacking our rights, we must speak out and stand for justice together.

The rule reversal was a step forward, but there’s no guarantee that these sudden and unexpected changes will not happen again. This is our time to stand up, fight back and defend the rights of all.

We are the largest migrant student movement in the country – and clearly when we take action together, we can win. Join us in building power!

  • If you are a current or former international student, join the movement! Fill out this form and we will connect with you: MigrantWorkersAlliance.org/StudentPower
  • If you are a non-migrant supporter or ally, join the cross-country week of action against racism and xenophobia by hosting an event in your community: MigrantRights.ca/Nov

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!

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.

Build the Movement for International Students!

If you want to join in building a movement to push back against regressive and unfair changes to international student rules, fill out this form. If you are an international student, we also have some spots open for paid outreach program to build power on campuses across the country to reverse the changes before November 1st.