1. What are main points of Live-in Caregiver Program (LIC)?
There are three main requirements a caregiver must meet to qualify under the LIC Program. A caregiver must:
Successfully completed the equivalent of Canadian high school education.
Have six month of full-time training or twelve month of full-time paid employment in a field or occupation related to the job as live-in caregiver.
Be able to speak, read and understand either English or French at a level that allows the caregiver to function independently in a home setting.
2. Could I see or talk with employee before I hire him or her?
Yes, you can.
3. Can I fire an incompetent employee?
Yes, if an employee does not carry out the duties as agreed to in the contract, you can give him or her required notice or pay in lieu of notice.
4. What's the minimum live-in caregiver pay per hour?
Employer must pay the live-in caregiver at least $9.25 per hour for every hour worked for up to 44 hours per week.
5. What about overtime rates?
Employer must pay the live-in caregiver an overtime rate of time-and-a-half for every hour the live-in caregiver works beyond 44 hours in a week.
6. What is a minimum and maximum amount of hours per week?
6. Employers must schedule their live-in caregivers to work at least 30 hours per week but up to a maximum of 48 hours per week.
7. What if employer requires caregiver for more than maximum amount hours per week?
If the employer requires live-in caregiver services for more than 48 hours a week, then the employer must hire at least two live-in caregivers and schedule their hours appropriately.
8. What are room and boarding deductions?
Employers may deduct up to $369.42 per month for room and boarding cost from the live-in caregiver's net pay and NOT gross pay.
9. When employers should pay and remit the tax deductions to Canada Revenue Agency?
Employers must calculate the tax deductions from the live-in caregiver's gross pay and remit the tax deductions directly to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on a monthly basis for every month the live-in caregiver works for the employer.
10. What about days off?
The live-in caregiver is entitled to two consecutive days off from work per week.
11. What about sick days?
The live-in caregiver is entitled to at least five sick days with pay per year.
12. What about vacation days?
The live-in caregiver is entitled to at least 10 vacation days with pay per year after the first year of employment.
13. What about statutory holidays?
The employer must pay the live-in caregiver regular pay for statutory holidays if the live-in caregiver worked on the regular working day before the weekend of the statutory holiday and the regular working day after the weekend of the statutory holiday.
14. What the live-in caregiver is responsible for?
The live-in caregiver is only responsible for providing care to persons who require care and declared to Service Canada by the employer. For example, a live-in caregiver who is hired to provide care to the child of an employer is responsible for washing and drying the closes of the child.
15. What the live-in caregiver is not responsible for?
The live-in caregiver is not responsible for providing care or service to persons not declared to Service Canada by the employer. For example, a live-in caregiver hired to look after the child of an employer is not responsible for washing and drying closes of the employer.
16. What else the live-in caregiver is not responsible for?
The live-in caregiver is not responsible for any heavy household chores, including moving furniture, gardening, raking leaves, and shoveling snow.
17. Can the live-in caregiver work for more than one employer at the same time?
The live-in caregiver is one authorized to work for the employer, indicated on the live-in caregiver's work permit, and cannot work for two or more employers at the same time.
18. When the live-in caregiver can start working?
The live-in caregiver can only stat working for the employer once the live-in caregiver is issued a work permit.
19. Can an employer threaten to deport the live-in caregiver?
The employer cannot threaten to deport the live-in caregiver for any reason
20. Can the employer terminate the employment of the live-in caregiver?
The employer has the right to terminate the employment of the live-in caregiver for any reason that is within the Ontario Labour Market Standards.
21. Can the live-in caregiver leave the employer?
The live-in caregiver has the right to leave the employer without any reason.
22. When the employer must provide a Record of Employment (ROE) to the live-in caregiver?
The employer must file a Record of Employment (ROE) with Service Canada after the end of the employment of the live-in caregiver, and must provide a copy of the ROE to the live-in caregiver.
23. How to resolve any employment dispute?
To resolve any employment dispute between the employer and the live-in caregiver, the live-in caregiver should contact Service Canada or the Canada Revenue Agency.
