Help Center

What is abuse?

Abuse can take many forms. Some forms of abuse are considered criminal acts in Canada. The people who commit them can be punished under the law. These include:

• physical violence, such as physical or sexual assault; and
• any intentional physical contact that causes injury.

Each of the following forms of abuse is considered a human rights abuse:

• verbal assault;
• verbal mocking;
• threats or false accusations by your employer that are meant to scare or intimidate you;
• threats to deport you if you do not comply with your employer’s demands (your employer does not have the authority to deport you);
• harassment; and
• degrading or humiliating behaviour toward you.

See also As a live-in caregiver, what can I do if I feel my employer is treating me unfairly?.

Answers others found useful

• Can my spouse or common-law partner work in Canada?
• How can I find out about jobs in Canada?
• Are there any conditions on my work permit?
• Can I study in Canada while I am a live-in caregiver?
• As a live-in caregiver, can I return to my home country for a vacation?
• Can I change employers under the Live-in Caregiver Program?
• How are employment contracts enforced?
• How do I hire a temporary foreign worker?
• Can I fire an incompetent foreign employee?
• What if a foreign worker becomes sick, has an accident, is hospitalized or needs home recovery?
• I am a Canadian citizen and my spouse is not. Can my spouse work in Canada?