This blog has been created to allow both families and caregivers the opportunity to share experiences, knowledge and ideas.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Agencies that charge fees to nannies
The BC Employment Standards Branch has recently announced that overseas caregivers that have been charged a fee to come to Canada can now apply to get that money back. Has anyone tried to do this and what was the result?
Hi Just saw your posting on Craigslist. The URL is wrong.
We haven't had much luck getting nannies to actually complain. Most don't want to, unless they are really in a pressure situation. Most of the caregivers we have met, there whole reason, is to come and Immigrate to Canada - the job is secondary. They agreed to pay for the services, they just want peace for themselves.
What our group is targetting are those agencies that find "sponsors for their nannies, but with no real intent to hire. Thus nanny arrives in Canada broke and no support. This makes the start of a new life difficult. Finding new family, when the nanny is stressed is not easy.
We've seen nannies unemployed for 6months -- a tough situation as they are eating up their 1yr extra to complete the program.
When they do find new employment it may take another 2months before they become legal -- what happens if the job didn't work out? How long will she have to wait till the next opportunity and the additional processing of a new work permit?
Some nannies who get desperate end up in abusive homes -- they will take any offers becuase they are running out of time. Any offers I mean, those that are live-out, or live-in positions, but they don't have a room - sleep on the couch.
Hi good day most of what are being said are quite true but there tow sides to everything as for agencies charging a fee yes they should but not too much secondly the reason why lots of nannies are out of work(especially filipinos) when they come here they are so nice but once they meet other persons that have been here for a long time and that person starts filling their heads with garbage they change they no longer care about the job theyare doing their friends are getting more so they want more and for that they dont want to work for someone that is paying the amount on their contract also because it takes so long for them to get here some employers get frustrated and because the papers are already in they get the chance to come here anyways so once they are released they have to find another employer and 90% of the agencies that brought them here will find them another employer and it doesnt take 6 months to find am employer because persons are always looking for caregivers and wiling to sponsor and 99% of employers will sponsor someone already here they dont want to wait. So i think that person was helped by their friends to come here and now they cant find an employer because that person (the friend) wants money and they arent getting it i have been dealing with these people for 15 years and their is nothing anyone can tell me that i havent seen so s i say their are 2 sides to everything ok.
It is not only illegal to charge fee to nannies it is also unethical. I have met several who where force to sell family real estate and business so they could come to Canada.
I guess the biggest problem is that most of these nannies are too intimidated to file a claim against these agencies. Hopefully the Employment Standards Branch has another way of going after them. Also has anyone read the article on the internet by the CBC News.ca They wrote an article about A-Pro Nannies. According to this article they have been charging nannies fees illegally since 2001 and have made over 1.5 million dollars
Why isnt Employment Standards taking licenses away from these agencies. If you do a search on Google. under nanny or nannies there are about 4 or 5 agencies listed on the first page who openly admit to charging nannies on their website.
SECOND "THESE PEOPLE" wow maybe if you weren't trying to employ someone from overseas so you can pay them peanuts you wouldn'y have these problems.
I am one of these people who you would say is filling these overseas nannies with garbage! I am a canadian born and raised, I have a degree and a great education in childcare. When I meet nannies at the park and we start talking and they tell me they clean the house care for the children and cook for under 10.00 an hour! I let them know that is inappropriate! You want the best care for your child but you want to pay someone as little as possible, then you want to complain and whine when people try to help them.
Heres my advice to you, If "these people" bother you so much find a local nanny and pay the 16+ dollars an hour.
I know an Agency that charge too much for nannies who wants to here in Canada they are affordable nannies that charge $5,000 candian dollars and Nanny Finders charge $4,500 poor nanny who gave in to this kind of scum...
I don't think that it is "illegal" to charge fees to live-in caregivers. Employment agency legislation in Alberta (for example)does not apply to domestic workers. Maybe in other provinces this is the case. Can someone provide references to applicable laws or legislation ? Thank-you.
I am working for a Recruitment company in Dubai and we are sourcing professional caregivers for job in Canada. Our services are totally free and it is assured that we will not charge the applicants.
If interested, pls send cvs to juliereception@gmail.com and we will take it officially
I think the big issue is not that the agencies charge the nannies. It is how much they charge. I can understand a small charge especially if the agency goes overseas to interview. It is the agencies that charge $5000-$10,000 that are unethical and should be accountable. Coincidentally most of these unethical agencies are owned and operated by people who are from the very country they recruit. They prey on people by representing themselves as "people of the same nationality" who care.
I was just reading this blog and find it very interesting. I have hired several overseas nannies for my family and was horrified to find out the last one was charged $5000. I specifically asked the agency if they charge the caregivers a fee and they said they did not. It even says on their website that Employers should beware of agencies that charge nannies. This agency is owned by a Philipino and is called APro nannies.
We have put through a formal complaint to Employment Standards but these agencies are tricky. They make the nanny pay cash so there is no paper trail and then they deny ever charging money. They also do not declare this money with Revenue Canada
Before hiring a nanny - you would have had a chance to talk to them -- at least interviewed them... your nanny would be able to tell you if they are being charged by the agency or not.
Majority of overseas workers pay - somebody, it may not always be the agency.
There are countless of overseas caregivers paying $5000+ and coming in Canada without a job.
I'm interested knowing what has been done about those cases. There are many negative media coverage on the Live-in Caregiver program, I would like to hear about those positive experiences of overseas caregivers that paid for the services
How many families would be willing to fork out $3000 to hire a nanny? (this is an up-front expense, no guarantees of the persons quality)
*** Expenses of airfare (back and forth) *** 3months of medical coverage while waiting for MSP to kick in? *** Agency fees of $700-3200
Governments have to protect the Canadian Families First. Overseas caregivers are not coming here just to work. They are here to stay. Why are we the ones to subsidize their immigration?
I believe the fees paid by overseas caregivers are fair - what is most important is that the contractual responsiblity of whoever they paid are being enforced. If they are paying soley for the means of entry -- then I would certainly report those operators to Immigration Canada.
Hi, Based on my experience as a nanny...I came here in canada the Nannyfinders.com charge me $3500 canadian dollars,my first employer didn't work out because they treat me as a slave(chinese family).Then the agency find another family(french family)still it didn't work out(same scenario,they treat me as a slave and work overtime witout pay)...I went to the agency again and ask another family then the owner is so angry...So i decided to find another family with the help of another agency coz I'm worried if I'm gonna run out of time...I'm glad i found an agency.Thanx to dusty martel in west vancouver in her agency.I didn't pay anything.Unlike other agency around vancouver area that you have to pay for registration(chinese agency)....thanx a lot i hope that you will help some other nannies tnat have been targeted by the agency and charge them a lot of money for their placement fee like my agency did.God Bless u all!
I AM IN TORONTO CANADA. ALL MY FRIENDS HAVE NANNIES HERE! IT IS SO SAD TO SAY THAT EVERY NANNY THAT COMES HERE MANY TIMES DOESNT WANT THE EMPLOYER THAT SPONSORED HER FROM OVER SEAS! THEY ALL ASK THE AGENCY: HOW MANY KIDS? HOW MANY HRS.? HOW MUCH IS THE PAY? I SEE LOTS OF THEM IN THE PARK NOT WATCHING THE KIDS,,,THEY ARE ALL ON THE PHONE! THEY HAVE TO PAY TO COME TO CANADA? WHY SHOULD WE DO IT FOR FREE FOR THEM? MY FRIEND SPONSORED A NANNY FROM HONG KONG,,,AFTER 2 WEEKS SHE SAID SHE IS NOT HAPPY AND LEFT! NO 2 WEEKS NOTICE! WHEN THE EMPLOYER ASKED HER WHY SHE IS GOING, SHE SAID SHE WANTS TO WORK CLOSE TO HER FRIENDS HOUSE!
HOW CAN A NANNY GET HERE WITHOUT AN AGENCY? DID YOU SEE ALL THE PAPER WORK? LET THEM PAY FOR GETTING A JOB HERE! IF I GO TO AN AGENCY TO GET ME A JOB(any) i will pay too! why should an agency work for free? or why should an employer pay...? the nanny need a job! she has to pay!
I am trying to hire a nanny thru direct hire, but the agency she was working with is threating her. They are harassing her, calling over and over, saying they will block the application with the agency. They are trying to charge her 5000 CAD. She doesnt have that kind of money!!! Neither do I but it doesnt cost that much. There are step by step directions on the canadian govt website. First you have to post an ad with jobbank, which you have to do regardless, then apply for LMO, again you have to do regardless, then send a letter given to you by govt to her with a contract. Pretty easy. I can agree some people want an agency to do that, but I would say 1000 dollars hould be the MAX , and employer should pay. Yes there should be protection for them if it doesnt work out, say they can deduct form the final paycheque if nanny leaves without fullfilling the term. To ask these women to sell off all thier land and posessions to come here is crazy and wrong. May are victimized by loan sharks, so the entire years plus of pay is all going back to pay the loan. We as Canadians want these overseas nannys, becouse they are cheaper, we are getting a great deal compared to what local childcare is so we should have to pay the expense of hiring them.
Issues of thier quality of work are seperate form this issue.
Nannies play an important role in many families. They are often nurturers, sometimes educators, companions and caretakers or even mentors. Some parents find it necessary to employ live in nannies, while others prefer to hire part-time nannies or baby sitters who work on an as-need basis. Thanks a lot.
23 comments:
Hi Just saw your posting on Craigslist. The URL is wrong.
We haven't had much luck getting nannies to actually complain. Most don't want to, unless they are really in a pressure situation. Most of the caregivers we have met, there whole reason, is to come and Immigrate to Canada - the job is secondary. They agreed to pay for the services, they just want peace for themselves.
What our group is targetting are those agencies that find "sponsors for their nannies, but with no real intent to hire. Thus nanny arrives in Canada broke and no support. This makes the start of a new life difficult. Finding new family, when the nanny is stressed is not easy.
We've seen nannies unemployed for 6months -- a tough situation as they are eating up their 1yr extra to complete the program.
When they do find new employment it may take another 2months before they become legal -- what happens if the job didn't work out? How long will she have to wait till the next opportunity and the additional processing of a new work permit?
Some nannies who get desperate end up in abusive homes -- they will take any offers becuase they are running out of time. Any offers I mean, those that are live-out, or live-in positions, but they don't have a room - sleep on the couch.
Hope this is a good start to your blog :)
http://unitednannies.blogspot.com
Are there any specific agencies you are targeting?
Hi good day most of what are being said are quite true but there tow sides to everything as for agencies charging a fee yes they should but not too much secondly the reason why lots of nannies are out of work(especially filipinos) when they come here they are so nice but once they meet other persons that have been here for a long time and that person starts filling their heads with garbage they change they no longer care about the job theyare doing their friends are getting more so they want more and for that they dont want to work for someone that is paying the amount on their contract also because it takes so long for them to get here some employers get frustrated and because the papers are already in they get the chance to come here anyways so once they are released they have to find another employer and 90% of the agencies that brought them here will find them another employer and it doesnt take 6 months to find am employer because persons are always looking for caregivers and wiling to sponsor and 99% of employers will sponsor someone already here they dont want to wait. So i think that person was helped by their friends to come here and now they cant find an employer because that person (the friend) wants money and they arent getting it i have been dealing with these people for 15 years and their is nothing anyone can tell me that i havent seen so s i say their are 2 sides to everything ok.
It is not only illegal to charge fee to nannies it is also unethical. I have met several who where force to sell family real estate and business so they could come to Canada.
I guess the biggest problem is that most of these nannies are too intimidated to file a claim against these agencies. Hopefully the Employment Standards Branch has another way of going after them. Also has anyone read the article on the internet by the CBC News.ca
They wrote an article about A-Pro Nannies. According to this article they have been charging nannies fees illegally since 2001 and have made over 1.5 million dollars
Why isnt Employment Standards taking licenses away from these agencies. If you do a search on Google. under nanny or nannies there are about 4 or 5 agencies listed on the first page who openly admit to charging nannies on their website.
RE: diffenders of the earth,
First its DEFENDERS!
SECOND "THESE PEOPLE" wow maybe if you weren't trying to employ someone from overseas so you can pay them peanuts you wouldn'y have these problems.
I am one of these people who you would say is filling these overseas nannies with garbage! I am a canadian born and raised, I have a degree and a great education in childcare. When I meet nannies at the park and we start talking and they tell me they clean the house care for the children and cook for under 10.00 an hour! I let them know that is inappropriate! You want the best care for your child but you want to pay someone as little as possible, then you want to complain and whine when people try to help them.
Heres my advice to you, If "these people" bother you so much find a local nanny and pay the 16+ dollars an hour.
I know an Agency that charge too much for nannies who wants to here in Canada they are affordable nannies that charge $5,000 candian dollars and Nanny Finders charge $4,500 poor nanny who gave in to this kind of scum...
Hello,
who can advise a good way to find an employment in Canada?
I am here since August and I am looking for a job as Caregiver.
I have a visa and work permit for it for 2 years.
Thank you!
e-mail: dimagladyr@gmail.com
I don't think that it is "illegal" to charge fees to live-in caregivers. Employment agency legislation in Alberta (for example)does not apply to domestic workers. Maybe in other provinces this is the case. Can someone provide references to applicable laws or legislation ? Thank-you.
Hi
I am working for a Recruitment company in Dubai and we are sourcing professional caregivers for job in Canada. Our services are totally free and it is assured that we will not charge the applicants.
If interested, pls send cvs to juliereception@gmail.com and we will take it officially
I think the big issue is not that the agencies charge the nannies. It is how much they charge. I can understand a small charge especially if the agency goes overseas to interview. It is the agencies that charge $5000-$10,000 that are unethical and should be accountable. Coincidentally most of these unethical agencies are owned and operated by people who are from the very country they recruit. They prey on people by representing themselves as "people of the same nationality" who care.
That is disgusting
I was just reading this blog and find it very interesting. I have hired several overseas nannies for my family and was horrified to find out the last one was charged $5000. I specifically asked the agency if they charge the caregivers a fee and they said they did not. It even says on their website that Employers should beware of agencies that charge nannies. This agency is owned by a Philipino and is called APro nannies.
yikes!!! that is alot.. Are u reporting them to the authorities? I wonder if anything can be done legally.. wow that is disgusitng!
We have put through a formal complaint to Employment Standards but these agencies are tricky. They make the nanny pay cash so there is no paper trail and then they deny ever charging money. They also do not declare this money with Revenue Canada
HELLO how about those CAREGIVER FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WITHOUT PAPERS IN CANADA, ARE THEY PAYING THE TAXES OR AT LEAST WORK LEGALY?
Before hiring a nanny - you would have had a chance to talk to them -- at least interviewed them... your nanny would be able to tell you if they are being charged by the agency or not.
Majority of overseas workers pay - somebody, it may not always be the agency.
There are countless of overseas caregivers paying $5000+ and coming in Canada without a job.
I'm interested knowing what has been done about those cases. There are many negative media coverage on the Live-in Caregiver program, I would like to hear about those positive experiences of overseas caregivers that paid for the services
How many families would be willing to fork out $3000 to hire a nanny? (this is an up-front expense, no guarantees of the persons quality)
*** Expenses of airfare (back and forth)
*** 3months of medical coverage while waiting for MSP to kick in?
*** Agency fees of $700-3200
Governments have to protect the Canadian Families First. Overseas caregivers are not coming here just to work. They are here to stay. Why are we the ones to subsidize their immigration?
I believe the fees paid by overseas caregivers are fair - what is most important is that the contractual responsiblity of whoever they paid are being enforced. If they are paying soley for the means of entry -- then I would certainly report those operators to Immigration Canada.
Hi,
Based on my experience as a nanny...I came here in canada the Nannyfinders.com charge me $3500 canadian dollars,my first employer didn't work out because they treat me as a slave(chinese family).Then the agency find another family(french family)still it didn't work out(same scenario,they treat me as a slave and work overtime witout pay)...I went to the agency again and ask another family then the owner is so angry...So i decided to find another family with the help of another agency coz I'm worried if I'm gonna run out of time...I'm glad i found an agency.Thanx to dusty martel in west vancouver in her agency.I didn't pay anything.Unlike other agency around vancouver area that you have to pay for registration(chinese agency)....thanx a lot i hope that you will help some other nannies tnat have been targeted by the agency and charge them a lot of money for their placement fee like my agency did.God Bless u all!
I AM IN TORONTO CANADA. ALL MY FRIENDS HAVE NANNIES HERE!
IT IS SO SAD TO SAY THAT EVERY NANNY THAT COMES HERE MANY TIMES DOESNT WANT THE EMPLOYER THAT SPONSORED HER FROM OVER SEAS!
THEY ALL ASK THE AGENCY: HOW MANY KIDS? HOW MANY HRS.? HOW MUCH IS THE PAY? I SEE LOTS OF THEM IN THE PARK NOT WATCHING THE KIDS,,,THEY ARE ALL ON THE PHONE!
THEY HAVE TO PAY TO COME TO CANADA? WHY SHOULD WE DO IT FOR FREE FOR THEM?
MY FRIEND SPONSORED A NANNY FROM HONG KONG,,,AFTER 2 WEEKS SHE SAID SHE IS NOT HAPPY AND LEFT! NO 2 WEEKS NOTICE!
WHEN THE EMPLOYER ASKED HER WHY SHE IS GOING, SHE SAID SHE WANTS TO WORK CLOSE TO HER FRIENDS HOUSE!
HOW CAN A NANNY GET HERE WITHOUT AN AGENCY?
DID YOU SEE ALL THE PAPER WORK?
LET THEM PAY FOR GETTING A JOB HERE!
IF I GO TO AN AGENCY TO GET ME A JOB(any) i will pay too! why should an agency work for free? or why should an employer pay...? the nanny need a job! she has to pay!
I am trying to hire a nanny thru direct hire, but the agency she was working with is threating her. They are harassing her, calling over and over, saying they will block the application with the agency. They are trying to charge her 5000 CAD. She doesnt have that kind of money!!! Neither do I but it doesnt cost that much. There are step by step directions on the canadian govt website. First you have to post an ad with jobbank, which you have to do regardless, then apply for LMO, again you have to do regardless, then send a letter given to you by govt to her with a contract.
Pretty easy. I can agree some people want an agency to do that, but I would say 1000 dollars hould be the MAX , and employer should pay. Yes there should be protection for them if it doesnt work out, say they can deduct form the final paycheque if nanny leaves without fullfilling the term.
To ask these women to sell off all thier land and posessions to come here is crazy and wrong. May are victimized by loan sharks, so the entire years plus of pay is all going back to pay the loan.
We as Canadians want these overseas nannys, becouse they are cheaper, we are getting a great deal compared to what local childcare is so we should have to pay the expense of hiring them.
Issues of thier quality of work are seperate form this issue.
Nannies play an important role in many families. They are often nurturers, sometimes educators, companions and caretakers or even mentors. Some parents find it necessary to employ live in nannies, while others prefer to hire part-time nannies or baby sitters who work on an as-need basis. Thanks a lot.
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