OT - Anyone else worried about new nanny laws?

[ReesaR]

As the OP mentioned - the laws have very recently changed. As of today April 1, 2010 minimum wage for nannies is $10.25 per hour. That means that you are paying 25 cents more and 50 cents more in the last year.

Recent changes include:
1) Agencies are no longer allowed to charge placement fees of any kind to a nanny (live-in caregiver) this means the placement charges will now fall to the employer and in many cases be completely unaffordable. Also if agencies are caught charging nannies they face fines of up to $50K and 1 year in jail.
2) Employers will now have to pay nannies expenses in terms of travel to Canada this can range from $800-$1400 per flight. the problem with this is that who wants to hire someone site unseen and in the process incur such a great expense.

In my opinion its a lose-lose situation for employers and for the nannies (the ones wanting to take part in the program not the ones who are already here - they hit the jackpot actually) they can pretty much name their price. as for the ones coming here as I mentioned earlier - why take the risk when you can just hire someone that is already here and trained by someone else and just pay a higher fee. It really is quite disgusting what the govt. has done and in the process put out of business legitimate agencies that have helped numerous Canadians. I know that some people exploit nannies but this is really throwing the baby out with the bathwater (no pun intended) I hope constituents call and write to their MP to complain that is the only way this will have a hope in hell of changing. And to those who think that maybe this isn't really so bad I have news for you - we are all pretty much screwed big time!

 

[DbleTheFun]

I agree this will increase the instances of "nanny poaching"... our Nanny who has been with us almost 2 years gets approached ALL the time when out with the kids... she is incredible, and others notice it. But we treat her well (Not entirely financial, in just being a true part of the family) and she has said many times that others will not lure her away (PHEW)

We were lucky in that we hired here once she was already in Canada... there are a LOT of Nannies that land in Canada with fake employers or worse yet, employers that mistreat them. Ask around, the community is tight, and often these girls know of others that are already in Canada but wanting to change employers (Remember, if here under the live in caregiver program, they can not be unemployed, so many times Nannies will surface if asked, but will not be idly waiting for a new employer publicly.

The rules are in place to protect these girls... I understand that, I just hope it doesnt due the program an injustice!

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

The rules are in place to protect these girls... I understand that, I just hope it doesnt due the program an injustice!

Unfortunately, this was a knee jerk reaction to a very important issue. According to the nanny agency I got my nanny from, applications for importing a nanny from oversees is down 93%. No one in their right mind would pay for a flight for someone they haven't met, with no guarantee they will ever even meet you at the airport, and no way to sue them for the cost if they do bail on you.

Plus, not allowing the agencies here to charge the nanny doesn't mean the agencies in the country they are in now will charge them any less. It just means that your costs will go up. $2,000 for a nanny agency, plus another $1,500 for an airplane ticket is far too much to pay for most families with small children.