International students to be allowed to work 24 hours a week

International students in Toronto will be adversely affected by an impending federal rule that says they will be able to work up to 24 hours a week off-campus when school is in session, students and advocates say.

The new rule is expected to take effect this month, according to the federal government.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller has said the new cap will ensure that international students can focus on their studies, while having the option to work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Liberal government temporarily waived the 20-hour cap on work hours for international students to ease labour shortages, but that waiver expired April 30.

“Students who want to come here have to realize that they can only work 24 hours in order to offset some of their costs or bring the material resources themselves when they come here,” Miller said on April 29.

During the summer, the federal government allowed students on an academic break to work 40 hours or more a week, but limited those taking full-time programs to 20 hours a week.

“That will be ramped up after the consultation and regulation period to 24 hours in September,” Miller added.

CBC Toronto has reached out to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for details, but has not yet heard back.

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