Working in Canada – 5 Benefits You Must Know

Canada is one of the most popular destinations for professionals seeking to build a career overseas. The best part is that it is pretty easy to find jobs there, and the country also has a robust immigrant program. It provides immigrants with valid work permits in Canada and various facilities to become Canadian citizens.

Apart from better employment and individual growth opportunities, several other reasons make Canada a top destination for job seekers. Some of these lesser-known benefits of working in Canada include:

Universal Healthcare Program

Canada offers immense healthcare benefits to individuals immigrating to the country. It has a universal health care system directly funded through general tax revenues. Under the plan, all Canadian citizens are covered and receive necessary medical and doctors’ services.

Unlike other nations where you might end up paying a lot of money for accessing healthcare facilities, Canadian companies offer affordable healthcare plans for all their employees.

Whether you are a permanent resident or hold a valid work visa in Canada, you have access to free medical care, which covers all prescription drugs paid through taxes. Besides, you can also apply for public health insurance as a permanent resident in Canada.

It is a highly subsidized healthcare system for a lifetime where everyone is covered, irrespective of the type of job or dependents.

Generous Parental/Maternity Leave Benefits

The country offers generous maternal/parental leave benefits to expecting/new parents. New mothers, under the policy, can take anywhere from 17 and 52 Employees can take weeks of leave from their jobs in Canada based on their employment history and hours worked. In addition, temporary residents with valid work permits in Canada may be eligible for parental benefits if they have social security numbers.

On top of maternity leave benefits, the Canadian government also offers paid leave for one or both parents through Canada’s employment insurance plan. The system is also designed to provide ongoing income for almost a year as a means to give these families the support they require, along with a guarantee of re-employment after their leave.

Apart from this, there are several other benefits for pregnant women or those who recently gave birth or adopted a child. One such benefit is Canada’s Prenatal Nutrition Program, which is specifically designed for expecting women facing challenging circumstances.

Legislated Employee Benefits

Working in Canada also offers full-time employees various legislated benefits based on the province. Among these include –

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

Under the CPP, both employee and employer contribute towards the pension that employees are entitled to. It is a compulsory and contributory savings plan for all employees with a valid work visa in Canada. From January 1, 2020, both employees and employers are required to contribute 5.25% up to the Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings (C$58,700 in 2020), which individuals can have access to as early as 60 years of age.

Employment Insurance (EI)

The Employment Insurance (EI) program (contributed by both employee and employer) offers temporary income support to unemployed workers to upgrade their skill sets or look for employment. Other than this, the EI program also offers unique benefits to employees who take time off work due to certain life events, including:

• Pregnancy or illness
• Caring for a newborn or adopted child
• Family member seriously ill with a significant risk of death
• A critically ill or injured person

However, it is essential to note that employees receive EI benefits only if they have paid the premiums in the past years and can meet all the qualifying and entitlement conditions.

Workplace Insurance Coverage

This coverage has to be paid for by the employer. In most cases, the benefit level is 55% of an employee’s average insurable weekly earnings, up to a certain maximum amount.

As of January 1, 2020, the highest insurable earnings amount (yearly) is C$54,200, i.e. an employee can receive C$573 per week as a maximum amount.

The other requirements and premiums for workplace insurance coverage may vary based on your specific industry and work environment.

Affordable Cost of Living

In comparison to other developed countries, the cost of living in Canada is quite affordable. Based on the area or province you choose to stay in, the housing is also reasonable.

While there are multiple factors to consider (salary, expenses, etc.) when determining the most cost-effective places, knowing the territories or provinces regarding affordability will help narrow down your choices. If you have partnered with top Canada visa consultants in Chennai or any other city, they can help in selecting the correct region.

Apart from this, gas, food, and automobiles are also more reasonable than in other developed nations. Canada is also known as the happiest and safest place to stay, with remarkably low crime rates, making it a great country to live in and work in.

Also Read: What Is Spouse Work Permit Canada, And How To Apply For It?

Pathway to Citizenship

After working in Canada and becoming a permanent resident of the country, you enjoy better chances of securing eligibility to apply for permanent residency, further offering citizenship-level several benefits.

Permanent residents or people with a valid work permit in Canada need to show that they have lived there for a minimum of three years, or 1,095 days, in the last five years to apply for citizenship. Over 85% of permanent residents of Canada eventually become Canadian citizens.

To Conclude

Canada enjoys a well-deserved reputation for being one of the safest and friendliest places to work in. While most countries have shut down their immigration programs due to the ongoingqa3wsz COVID-19 pandemic, Canada still offers excellent immigration opportunities in 2021 in an endeavor to encourage more skilled people to move there and help bolster their economy.

If you’re also thinking of immigrating to Canada from India, the best place to start the process is to get in touch with Croyezimmigration -a professional visa consultant in Chennai.

As a leading international immigration consulting company, we can help you to apply for your work permit in Canada in a fast and hassle-free manner. This will make your move to this fascinating and forward-thinking country super easy and smooth.