Last Updated on: 27th June 2023, 07:14 pm
Canada And UK Sign Agreement Expanding Employment Opportunities
The UK and Canadian governments have signed a new agreement that will expand job opportunities in each other’s countries for an extended period.
Sean Fraser, Canadian Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and Robert Jenrick, UK Minister of State for Immigration, announced the signing of a youth mobility agreement. The two countries plan to implement the new agreement in 2024.
As part of this agreement, more Canadian and British youth will benefit from longer-term mutual work opportunities in each other’s countries through International Experience Canada (IEC) and British youth.
The new agreement complements an existing youth mobility partnership that began in 2008 and includes improvements such as raising the eligibility age from 18-30 to 18-35.
In addition, two new streams will be added: International Co-op (Internship) and Young Professionals to complement the existing Working Holiday category for UK citizens arriving in Canada.
In addition, under the new agreement, the total length of stay for participants will increase from 2 to 3 years.
Sean Fraser commented on the changes and encouraged young people in both countries to take advantage of the opportunities the program offers.
“The UK is one of the most popular countries for young Canadians to work and travel abroad. Canada is also a preferred destination for British youth attending the IEC. This new arrangement makes it easier for Canadian and British youth to work and travel in each other’s countries while enjoying the benefits of international youth mobility. I encourage young people from both countries to take advantage of the opportunities this program offers and explore new cultures, learn new skills and gain international experience and perspectives,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Minister of State for Immigration, Robert Jenrick, said enlargement offers more young people the chance to make lasting connections, develop their skills, and use the experience to make a contribution both in their host country and after they return.
It’s worth noting that International Experience Canada (IEC) is a reciprocal program that allows Canadian and international youth to work and travel in each other’s countries.
The program consists of three categories listed below:
- Working Holiday participants receive an open work permit that allows them to work anywhere in the host country to fund their travel.
- International Co-op (internship) participants receive an employer-specific work permit that allows students to gain targeted experience in their field of study.
- Participating career starters receive a specific work permit from their employer in order to gain specific professional experience in their studies or career.
The UK is not the only country with which Canada has such an agreement. In fact, Toronto has such agreements or agreements with 37 other countries and territories.
More than 240,000 Canadians have attended the IEC since 2008, and many have returned to Canada with valuable new experiences for their personal and professional lives.
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