Nobody should ever pay to get a job. Neither a company nor an agency may ask you for money for arranging work, for “reserving a place”, for training or for accommodation in advance. Anyone who asks for money in advance is almost always a scammer.
1. A written contract before you leave home
- Before you leave, ask for a written contract, not just promises on the phone. It should state the pay, working hours, place of work and who employs you.
- You must understand the contract. If it is in a foreign language, ask for a translation or have someone read it.
- If a company from your home country hires you and sends you abroad, ask for the A1 form. It confirms where you are insured.
2. How much you really take home
- Check whether the pay is gross (brutto) or net (netto). Tax and social contributions are deducted from the gross pay.
- Ask when and how often you are paid, and whether you can get an advance on your wages.
- Ask for a payslip. It shows what was deducted, accommodation too.
3. Accommodation and travel
- Ask where you will live, how many people share a room and how much it costs per day or month. Ask for photos.
- If the company pays for the accommodation, it should be in the contract. If they deduct it from your pay, it must be on your payslip.
- Agree on who pays for the journey there and back home.
4. An agency must have a licence
- An agency that arranges work needs a licence. In Slovakia it is issued by the Central Office of Labour (Ústredie práce, sociálnych vecí a rodiny), in Czechia by the labour office (úrad práce). Ask for the licence number and check it with the labour office.
- On agency job ads on EuroPráca, we show the licence number if the agency gave it.
- Look for experiences of people who have already worked through the agency. Search for the company on the internet too.
5. Documents and help in an emergency
- Never give your ID card or passport to anyone for safekeeping. Showing it or giving a copy is enough.
- Save the emergency number 112, valid in the whole EU.
- If you have a serious problem abroad, your country's embassy or consulate can help. For advice about working in the EU, there is also the network EURES.
Something not right?
If a job ad on EuroPráca asks for money, promises unrealistic pay, or the company acts differently than it wrote, report it with the “Report job ad” button on the job offer, or write to us at info@europraca.sk. You can also block the company.