Starting in September, international students will be permitted to work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week, announced Immigration Minister Marc Miller. The Liberal government, in response to labor shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, temporarily lifted the 20-hour work limit for international students. However, this waiver is set to expire tomorrow. Until September, the work hours limit will revert to 20 hours per week, with a permanent change to allow 24 hours per week expected thereafter.
During school breaks in the summer and winter holidays, international students face no restrictions on the number of hours they can work. Earlier this year, officials in Miller’s department cautioned that the temporary waiver could potentially divert students’ focus from their studies and undermine the objectives of temporary foreign worker programs.
