For now, many Indian workers in Canada are left in a state of uncertainty, fighting to survive in a challenging job market with limited opportunities.
Thousands of Indian workers in Canada are grappling with rising unemployment and struggling to secure even low-wage jobs in sectors such as cleaning and cooking. The recent tightening of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Programme has significantly reduced opportunities for foreign workers, leaving many Indians stranded outside restaurants and job centres, waiting for any job they can find.
Canada’s new TFW rules, implemented last month, limit the intake of low-wage foreign workers to just 10% of the workforce in certain industries. As a result, many Indians who previously held stable jobs are now forced to compete for menial positions. Vedanta Sarma, a 26-year-old from Hyderabad currently living in Brampton, describes his daily struggle: “Every morning, I visit restaurants, car washes, and maintenance companies, hoping someone will hire me.” Despite holding a Master’s degree, Sarma now finds it difficult to make ends meet.
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According to immigration analyst Laxman Rao, the TFW programme’s tightening is not the only issue
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“There is an oversupply in certain industries, and post-pandemic economic struggles have reduced the number of available jobs,” he explained
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With growing political pressure on the Canadian government to limit the number of immigrants in the workforce, the situation could worsen
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“If the rules get stricter, job prospects for Indians may dwindle even further.”
Rahul K., a 24-year-old from Warangal, shares a similar story. “I worked as a video editor and content moderator during the day, and as a part-time cook at night. But after the restaurant I worked at closed, I lost my job. Now, surviving on just one job has become almost impossible, especially with the rising cost of living,” he explained. Rahul can no longer send money home to support his family, a goal that initially motivated his move to Canada.
Even highly qualified and experienced Indian workers are struggling to find employment, as competition intensifies for every available job. Many had hoped to secure a stable financial future in Canada, but those dreams are quickly fading in the face of these new restrictions.
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