Fair Integration
The Federal Government ensures, through advisory services on labor and social law issues, that third-country nationals are protected from labor exploitation.
Advisory and Information Services
Information and Notification Obligations for Employers and Recruitment Agencies
Advisory Services for EU Workers
Advisory and Information Services
The advisory and information service “Fair Integration” has been implemented since January 1, 2026, on the basis of Section 45b of the Residence Act in conjunction with the Third-Country Nationals Advisory Services Ordinance. Previously, the advisory service was funded as a program line of the ESF Plus funding program “IQ – Integration through Qualification.”
Fair Integration is an advisory service for third-country nationals living in Germany and abroad on labor and social law issues. The advisory centers provide third-country nationals with knowledge about their own rights and obligations in employment relationships and support them in protecting themselves against exploitation and discrimination at work. Domestic employees also benefit from this protection, as unfair competition through inappropriate working conditions, in particular through wage dumping, is prevented.
In each federal state, an advisory center is established by one provider. Each provider is responsible for advising individuals from all occupational groups and economic sectors. The subject of the advice includes questions from third-country nationals on labor and social law topics related to the employment relationship, for example regarding wages, working hours, vacation, termination, health insurance, and pension entitlements. Use of the advisory service is free of charge for third-country nationals and should, if possible, be provided in the native language of the third-country national.
Information and Notification Obligations for Employers and Recruitment Agencies
Since January 1, 2026, information obligations pursuant to Section 45c of the Residence Act apply to domestic employers who hire a third-country national with residence or habitual residence in a third country to work in Germany. At the latest on the first working day, employees must be informed in text form about the “Fair Integration” information and advisory service, and the current contact details of the advisory center closest to the workplace must be provided.
Comparable information obligations may also apply to recruitment agencies pursuant to Section 299 of Book Three of the Social Code (SGB III). In these cases, the information obligation under Section 45c of the Residence Act does not apply.
Advisory Services for EU Workers
A similarly structured advisory service also exists for employees from EU countries. Fair Mobility informs, advises, and supports EU workers on labor and social law topics in their native language. Here is an overview of counseling services for fair integration
https://www.bmas.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Arbeitsrecht/Beratungsangebot-Faire-Integration/informationsblatt-fuer-arbeitnehmerinnen-ohne-empfangsbestaetigung.pdf