UFCW 1518 supports international students
We’re calling for urgent action to support international students working in British Columbia.
International students are not just an integral part of our province’s workforce — they are UFCW 1518 members, co-workers, friends, and family. Beyond the crucial role they play in our economy, they enrich Canada’s cultural fabric, bringing diverse perspectives that strengthen our society as a whole. As labour activists, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that international students are treated fairly and their well-being is safeguarded, just as we would for any other worker.
Want to join the campaign? Sign up below for important updates.
The challenges facing international students
Funding Studies
72% of international students we surveyed relied on income earned from working in Canada as the primary source of funding for their studies. This heavy reliance on part-time work while studying places immense pressure on students, impacting their academic performance and overall well-being.
Financial Hardship
A staggering 88% of respondents reported experiencing financial difficulties since arriving in Canada, with 72% struggling with Increased school expenses, second only to housing expenses (75%) and higher than the cost of groceries (63%).
Considering Leaving
The financial strain led 59% of respondents to consider leaving Canada. Of those considering leaving, 31% indicated they were likely to do so before completing their study. This potential loss of talent represents a significant blow to Canada’s workforce and diversity, and likely has an impact on turnover in the industries we represent.
Budgetary Constraints
A significant 79% of respondents had had to re-evaluate their budgets since arriving in Canada, a testament to the constant financial pressure they face.
Working Hours Restrictions
The majority of respondents (61%) worked between 16 to 20 hours per week during their semesters. In other words, many of them needed to maximize their earning potential within the constraints of their study permits, which only allow the majority of international students to work up to 20 hours a week while in school.
Desire for Increased Hours
A significant 60% of respondents expressed a desire to work more hours than their current schedules allow. The primary reason cited for insufficient hours was government policy restrictions (59%), nearly double the second most popular reason (not offered enough hours by their employer, 32%).
The challenges facing international students
Funding Studies
72% of international students we surveyed relied on income earned from working in Canada as the primary source of funding for their studies. This heavy reliance on part-time work while studying places immense pressure on students, impacting their academic performance and overall well-being.
Financial Hardship
A staggering 88% of respondents reported experiencing financial difficulties since arriving in Canada, with 72% struggling with Increased school expenses, second only to housing expenses (75%) and higher than the cost of groceries (63%).
Considering Leaving
The financial strain led 59% of respondents to consider leaving Canada. Of those considering leaving, 31% indicated they were likely to do so before completing their study. This potential loss of talent represents a significant blow to Canada’s workforce and diversity, and likely has an impact on turnover in the industries we represent.
Budgetary Constraints
A significant 79% of respondents had had to re-evaluate their budgets since arriving in Canada, a testament to the constant financial pressure they face.
Working Hours Restrictions
The majority of respondents (61%) worked between 16 to 20 hours per week during their semesters. In other words, many of them needed to maximize their earning potential within the constraints of their study permits, which only allow the majority of international students to work up to 20 hours a week while in school.
Desire for Increased Hours
A significant 60% of respondents expressed a desire to work more hours than their current schedules allow. The primary reason cited for insufficient hours was government policy restrictions (59%), nearly double the second most popular reason (not offered enough hours by their employer, 32%).
What we're calling for
UFCW 1518 proposes the following actions to address the challenges facing international students:
Regulating International Student Fees
While domestic student fees are capped at a 2% annual increase, international student fees have no limitation and have seen an almost 600% increase from 1991 to 2019. We urge the BC government to amend the Tuition Limit Policy to include the regulation of fees for international students.
Increased funding for post-secondary education
This investment in education can ameliorate the financial burden on all students, including international students, and will benefit Canadian society as a whole by fostering a highly skilled and diverse workforce.
Collective Bargaining Initiatives
Along with other unions, we will leverage our collective bargaining power to better working conditions for our international student members. This includes negotiating tailored provisions such as increased unpaid leave to allow international students to visit family abroad while maintaining employment stability.
Building partnerships and solidarity
Many local organizations are already engaged in this issue and have existing campaigns targeted at bringing fairness to international students, and we will seek to partner with them to increase our power and influence in our advocacy efforts. These include: the BC Federation of Students, Migrant Students United, and the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance.
What we're calling for
UFCW 1518 proposes the following actions to address the challenges facing international students:
Regulating International Student Fees
While domestic student fees are capped at a 2% annual increase, international student fees have no limitation and have seen an almost 600% increase from 1991 to 2019. We urge the BC government to amend the Tuition Limit Policy to include the regulation of fees for international students.
Increased funding for post-secondary education
This investment in education can ameliorate the financial burden on all students, including international students, and will benefit Canadian society as a whole by fostering a highly skilled and diverse workforce.
Collective Bargaining Initiatives
Along with other unions, we will leverage our collective bargaining power to better working conditions for our international student members. This includes negotiating tailored provisions such as increased unpaid leave to allow international students to visit family abroad while maintaining employment stability.
Building partnerships and solidarity
Many local organizations are already engaged in this issue and have existing campaigns targeted at bringing fairness to international students, and we will seek to partner with them to increase our power and influence in our advocacy efforts. These include: the BC Federation of Students, Migrant Students United, and the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance.