Kamloops councillor's motion seeks to increase the cap on hourly work for international students

Photo: Castanet Staff

A Kamloops councillor is hoping to press the federal government to increase the number of hours international students are permitted to work — a change he says will help students and city businesses.

Sarai told Castanet Kamloops international students are limited to 20 hours of work per week while classes are in session. Meanwhile, city businesses of all types are struggling for staff, while an increasing cost of living is impacting students.

“The biggest struggle [for businesses] was the workers that were there, that they were relying on to keep their businesses open, were great workers, but they are limited 20 hours. In the summer, they had 40. But the concern was summer's over now, the government's got a cap on international students — 20 hours a week,” Sarai said.

“A lot of businesses were concerned and echoed to me that if we lose 20 hours for each of these part-time employees, we might be to the point where we have to close down.”

Sarai added that the priority for international students is completing school and keeping up their grades, but he’s heard from students who support a potential 10 hour increase.

In last week’s council meeting, Bill Sarai put forward two motions for council to consider.

One motion, if approved, would see city staff draft a letter to the minister of foreign affairs, recommending the federal government increase the limit of hours international students can work.

The other motion would have the city express its support for Bill M-44 — to be discussed in parliament this fall — which seeks to provide a better pathway to permanent residency for temporary foreign workers, including international students, with Canadian work experience in industries with labour shortages.

“That's where my notice of motion came forward,” Sarai said.

“I felt that it was my duty as a councillor to speak up for the businesses in my city, and if other municipalities would like to piggyback into that notice of motion and put more pressure on to Ottawa, then that is my goal.”

Sarai said he has discussed the matter with international students in Kamloops who said they would benefit from being able to work a few more hours.

“Everything has gone up for them to survive in Canada. The cost of living, whether it's gasoline, food, rent, housing, everything's gone up, except their ability to work one extra hour,” Sarai said.

He said students are afraid they won’t be able to keep up with the cost of living to stay in Kamloops.

“These are students that are here in their second, third year, maybe. And they're in a field that we are desperately in need of. And now, by no fault of their own, they might be forced to go home,” Sarai said.

Since introducing the motions to council last week, Sarai said he’s received support letters from the city’s business associations, as well as representatives from the hotel and hospitality industries.

Sarai said he hopes if these motions pass, other cities will send their own letters of support.

“I hope that we get more municipalities across B.C. and Canada getting on board, because they have the same concerns, and push for this as well,” Sarai said.

Sarai’s two motions are expected to be discussed by council during its Aug. 30 meeting.