Our Ethical Recruitment to Germany

German framework for Ethical Recruitment

• The Federal Employment Agency (BA) regulates the employment of foreign workers and must approve most employments of third‑country nationals.

• Approval is only granted when working conditions (pay, hours, benefits) are comparable to those of German or equally privileged workers in similar roles.

• For many roles, the BA also checks whether suitable domestic or EU candidates are available before granting consent, to protect the local labour market.

Protection of health and care systems abroad

• Germany prohibits active recruitment in health and care professions from 57 “shortage countries” listed in Annex 1 of the Employment Ordinance.

• From these countries, recruitment, job placement and training placement in health and care may only be carried out by the Federal Employment Agency itself; private agencies and employers may not run active campaigns there.

• Health and care professionals from these countries may still come to Germany, but only if they apply independently on their own initiative, without targeted recruitment or placement services.

• Violating this ban is an administrative offence and can be punished with fines under § 404 para 2 no. 9 SGB III.

Requirements for foreign health and care professionals

• Foreign health and care staff usually need recognition of their professional qualifications in Germany to work in regulated professions.

• A specific residence permit exists for carrying out recognition procedures, which allows qualification measures and limited employment during this phase.

• Nursing assistants with at least one year of state‑recognised training can access the German labour market under special rules in § 22a of the Employment Ordinance.

How Vasco Medics complies with German rules

• No recruitment from banned countries

  • Vasco Medics does not conduct active recruitment, marketing or structured placement in health and care professions in any of the 57 countries covered by Germany’s recruitment ban for shortage states.

  • If a health professional from a listed country contacts us independently, we only provide general, non‑targeted information and direct them towards the official channels of the Federal Employment Agency.​

• Cooperation with the Federal Employment Agency

  • Vasco Medics follows the BA’s guidance on recruitment procedures and only supports projects and placements that are compatible with German law and BA approvals.

  • For profiles that require labour‑market checks or special consent, we work with employers to submit complete documentation so the BA can verify comparability of working conditions and compliance with its admission rules.

• Fair and transparent working conditions

  • Vasco Medics only collaborates with German employers who offer contracts that meet or exceed the local standards for pay, working time and benefits for comparable German staff.

  • We review offer letters and contracts to ensure that there are no unlawful deductions, hidden fees, or clauses that could restrict workers’ rights in Germany.

• No worker‑paid recruitment fees

  • Vasco Medics does not charge candidates recruitment or placement fees for positions in Germany, in line with international fair recruitment principles and German expectations of ethical practice.

  • Any legitimate costs that may arise (such as visa fees or document recognition fees) are made transparent in advance and, where possible, are covered fully or partially by the employer.

• Support with recognition and integration

  • Vasco Medics supports candidates in preparing the documents required for German professional recognition procedures and refers them to official information portals, such as the BA and recognition authorities.​

  • We encourage language training and integration support so that candidates can work safely, understand their rights, and build long‑term careers in Germany.

• Continuous compliance monitoring

  • Our internal compliance team regularly reviews changes in German migration and employment law, including updates to the BA leaflet on “Employment of Foreign Workers in Germany” and associated regulations.

  • We promptly adjust our processes, communication and partner contracts whenever legal or regulatory requirements change.

Our commitment to ethical and sustainable recruitment

• Vasco Medics International Ltd is committed to recruitment that protects patients, supports health systems in origin countries, and safeguards the rights and wellbeing of every professional we place.

• By aligning our work with the standards of the Federal Employment Agency and Germany’s legal framework, we aim to offer a transparent, lawful and ethical pathway for international professionals who wish to work in Germany