Study In Canada: Indian Students Protest Against PGWP Changing Rules

International students mostly from India are protesting in Canada against the changing PGWP policies.

As per reports, many Indian students are protesting in Canada against the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP) new policy. Canada recently announced changes to the PGWP rules. It decided to remove a policy which allows international students to extend post-graduate work permits by 18 months.

Naujawan Support Network's message on the X platform reads, “In Brampton, Mr. Singh and dozens of international students mostly from India have organized a permanent encampment near the city’s busiest highway. Every day, they gather to commiserate, exchange information about the policy changes and stage protests. They hold up signs that say: “Good Enough to Work? Good Enough to Stay.”

"I personally don’t recommend doing a program not eligible for PGWP. You have just 90 days after your study to find an employer, get a job, and get sponsorship for your work permit & PNP. Find a student who has done the program in the past and ask about their experience," says another message on X.

966 Academic Programmes In Canada Open For Indian Students

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently released the details of PGWP policy changes implemented from November 1, 2024. It also released a list of 966 eligible academic programmes for international students under five broad categories which include - science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), healthcare, agri-food, transportation and skilled trades.

Karen Dancy, director of recruitment and international at Olds College said in the LinkedIn post, "Notably absent on the list is hospitality. This will be catastrophic for local communities, including rural and remote areas, that rely on our college-educated international learners."

Education Sector Strongly Objects New Rules

As per Business Standard, the sector has strongly objected to the new rules. ICEF Monitor, a market intelligence resource said, "the new rules unfairly target public colleges by demanding they align their programmes with national labour market needs, which may not reflect local demands."

"Ottawa’s decision to align programmes with national needs creates a fundamental disconnect between the pressing needs of local labour markets and the essential contributions of skilled international graduates," said Pari Johnston, president & CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada.

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