As of January 1, 2026, the advisory centers have commenced their work on a new statutory basis. The aim is to protect third-country nationals from exploitation through labor and social law advice while simultaneously protecting domestic workers from wage dumping.
For this purpose, an advisory center has been established in each federal state. These centers provide qualified advice tailored to the specific needs of third-country nationals. The advisory service is free of charge, multilingual, and is directed both at third-country nationals residing in Germany and at third-country nationals who are still abroad but wish to work in Germany.
For this purpose, an advisory center has been established in each federal state. These centers provide qualified advice tailored to the specific needs of third-country nationals. The advisory service is free of charge, multilingual, and is directed both at third-country nationals residing in Germany and at third-country nationals who are still abroad but wish to work in Germany.
At the same time, since January 1, 2026, employers have been obliged to inform employees about the “Fair Integration” advisory service (Section §45c of the Residence Act).
Act on the Residence, Employment, and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory 1) (Residence Act – AufenthG)
Section §45c Duty to Provide Information When Recruiting from Abroad
If an employer with its registered office in the federal territory concludes an employment contract for work to be performed within the country with a third-country national who has their residence or habitual residence abroad, the employer must, at the latest on the first day of employment, inform the third-country national in text form of the possibility of receiving information or advice pursuant to Section 45b paragraph 1 sentences 1 and 2. In doing so, the employer must at least provide the current contact details of the advisory center closest to the workplace. The employer’s duty to provide information does not apply in the case of cross-border recruitment within the meaning of Section 299 of Book Three of the Social Code.
