Nannies and other home-care workers who come to Canada for jobs would be better protected from abuse and exploitation by their employers under proposed changes to rules governing live-in foreign caregivers, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Saturday.

"The government of Canada is proposing measures that would make it easier for live-in caregivers to gain residency, make the program more flexible for caregivers and to better protect their rights," he said before an audience at Toronto's Kababayan Community Centre.

People at the centre have been lobbying for the changes on behalf of the Filipino-Canadian community.

The changes mean nannies will be given up to four years to complete a total of two years of work that is necessary to apply for landed immigrant status.

In addition, they will no longer have to undergo a second medical examination when they apply, and employers wanting to hire a nanny from overseas will have to pick up the travel costs and provide medical coverage until they are eligible for provincial health plans.

Eliminating the need for a second medical exam was originally advocated by the late Juana Tejada. She developed cancer while working as a caregiver and was initially denied permanent resident status when she failed her second medical exam.

Kenney said the changes, expected to take effect sometime next year, would help ensure foreign live-in caregivers are not "subject to abusive situations" and not "exploited by unscrupulous consultants" as they work toward permanent residency.

The government is also going to require caregivers' employers to clearly outline job duties, hours of work, overtime and holidays, sick leave, and termination and resignation terms.

Employers found to have provided significantly different wages, working conditions or occupations than they promised may be blacklisted.

With files from The Canadian Press