Background:  

The number of third-country nationals recruited to Ireland through the employment permit system has more than doubled since 2021. While the Irish Employment Permits Act 2024 prohibits employers from deducting recruitment fees from wages, there is a lack of clarity regarding fees charged by employment agencies and intermediaries. Reports from Irish NGOs highlight that some migrant workers pay extortionate fees, often ranging from €2,000 to €18,000, which is frequently linked to broader workplace exploitation. This query aims to understand how other EMN Member and Observer Countries regulate these practices to ensure fair treatment and protection for migrant workers. 

Respondents:  

24 EMN Member and Observer Countries (including BE) provided a public answer to this ad hoc query.  

Findings:  

A preliminary analysis of the results of the ad hoc query shows that:  

• Countries take different approaches to regulating agencies that charge recruitment fees to third-country nationals. Several countries have explicit regulations governing these agencies through national labour laws (AT, HR, EE, FI, DE, HU, IE, LV, LT, NL, PL, SK). In other countries, while no specific agency-focused regulation exists, the practice is effectively prohibited because labour intermediation must be provided free of charge to jobseekers (BE, BG, CZ, EL, IT, SI, ES, RS). A few countries reported no current legislation regulating such fees (CY, FR, LU, SE). 

• The primary legislative basis for these regulations is national labour, employment, or social codes. Additionally, many countries cited the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 181 on Private Employment Agencies as the foundation for the "employer pays" principle, which mandates that workers should not be charged recruitment fees (BE, CZ, LV, LT, SK). 

• The majority of countries do not include specific rules regarding recruitment agency fees in bilateral agreements with sending countries (BE, HR, EE, DE, HU, IE, LT, NL, PL, SK). However, some exceptions exist: AT has Memoranda of Understanding with the Philippines and Indonesia that explicitly prohibit unlawful fees. FI uses non-binding cooperation documents to promote ethical recruitment and minimise costs for migrants. LV has agreements with countries like Uzbekistan and Moldova that reinforce national "free of charge" laws. 

• Some countries foresee a regulated, maximum fee that may be charged in specific cases: DE permits a maximum of €2,000 for successful placement, with lower limits for au pairs (€150). AT allows a fee of up to 10% of pay, but only for artists or athletes. LV permits a maximum of €50, but only for document preparation, not the job placement itself. PL allows agencies to charge for "actual incurred costs" such as travel, visas, and medical exams, but prohibits charging commission. Furthermore, IE requires agencies to have their specific fee scales approved by the government. 

• Countries apply various sanctions when recruitment agencies unlawfully charge fees. Administrative fines are the most common penalty (AT, HR, EE, DE, HU, IE, LV, LT, NL, PL, SK). Many countries also provide for license revocation or removal from national registries (CZ, EE, HU, IE, LV, LT, PL). FI reported the strictest measures, where charging recruitment fees is a criminal offense punishable by up to one year of imprisonment. LV also noted that violators may be banned from inviting third-country nationals for up to three years. 

For further details, please read the compilation of answers attached above.