International students in Winnipeg call change to work hour limit a good step but not enough

International students in Manitoba are welcoming changes by the federal government that would allow them to work unlimited hours, but say the measure doesn't go far enough to address the pressing challenges they face.

"I'm excited, honestly, and I'm very, very happy," said Ivan Nunez Gamez, an international student from Honduras studying political studies and economics at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

"This is definitely a win. We should not undermine it, but we need to continue the conversation and stop treating international students like second-class citizens," he added.

Presently, international students whose studies permit allow them to work off-campus can work a maximum of 20 hours each week during the school term. There is no limit during breaks.

On Friday, federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said lifting this limit will help alleviate a labour shortage in Canada. It will come into effect under a pilot project, which will run from Nov. 15, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2023.

Nunez Gamez said international students like himself have been grappling with the cost of living going up, and so they will benefit from the change.

He said it also shows the value of international students to the economy, which he says is not reflected in other policies affecting that group. 

"For instance, here in Manitoba, international students still do not have public-funded health care. We're treated like second-class citizens and our tuition has increased every single year I've been a student," said Nunez Gamez. 

Just last month, Nunez Gamez took part in a protest organized by the Manitoba Alliance of Post-Secondary Students at the Manitoba Legislative Building, calling on the provincial government to address the lack of public health insurance coverage for international students. 

Meanwhile, Ana Sofía Díaz said she has already put in her request for her hours to go up once the federal government's changes kick in. 

Sofía Diaz, who is in her fourth year of an advanced degree in psychology at the University of Manitoba, said even though she welcomes the news, it's "bittersweet" based on the government's statement that the change aims to tackle the present labour shortage in Canada.

"It's temporary and then it just feels like the moment they no longer need us to help them with the employment crisis, then we're going to be disposed of," she said.

Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour, said he thinks it's "unfortunate" that this is only a temporary measure. 

"I think it should be a permanent change, to allow these students that flexibility and that option should they want to take up work and gain more experience in a Canadian work environment," said Rebeck.