BackHow to check whether an employment agency is operating legally?
Checking the legality of an employment agency is a crucial step for anyone seeking employment in this way. Unfair practices and fraud can lead to serious problems, so it is worth knowing what to look out for to avoid unpleasant situations. How to check if an employment agency is operating legally? How to check an employment agency?
Employment agency – what does it do?
An employment agency is an institution that mediates between an employer and a candidate seeking employment. The activities of the agency cover a wide range of services, including permanent and temporary work, recruitment and selection of candidates, hiring of temporary workers, career counselling, organisation of training courses, or employee support. Employment agencies also help with legal formalities related to employment, such as work visas or work permits, and offer legal advice on labour regulations. They act as intermediaries who connect employers with suitable candidates, facilitating the recruitment and employment process and supporting the professional development of employees.
An employment agency is often referred to as an employment agency, placement agency or recruitment agency. It can vary in nature, hence what it does depends on the specific industry and the specific needs of both employers and jobseekers. There are employment agencies that focus on recruiting office workers, while others choose manual workers.
How to check whether an employment agency is operating legally?
A very important step in choosing an employment agency is to choose a legal employment agency. You can find many companies on the market that advertise themselves as legitimate employment agencies, but not all of them meet the required legal standards. To make sure that the agency you choose is reliable and legal, it is worth paying attention to a few key aspects:
- National Register of Employment Agencies KRAZ – each employment agency must be registered in a special register. The KRAZ is a publicly accessible register of employment agencies to which everyone has access. It allows you to check whether an employment agency is operating legally. It contains the most important data, such as TIN, contact details, registered office address and date of registration. If an agency is not listed in the register of employment agencies, it is unfortunately not operating legally.
- Reviews of the temporary employment agency – it is worth paying attention to them, although they are not always objective. Many people may not know exactly how employment agencies operate and may express their opinions based on isolated experiences that do not necessarily reflect reality. It is important to carefully analyse the opinions in question and to look out for recurring patterns in both positive and negative opinions.
- The legal activities of employment agencies may also depend on the conditions they offer. Pay particular attention to whether the terms of the contract coincide with what was previously communicated verbally or in writing. If you read a temporary work contract or other employment agreement you need to look at the rate, the number of hours, the type of work, the length of the assignment and the duties. The moment an agency proposes strange employment rules that are not in line with general labour law, a red light should go on for us that something is wrong. The activities of employment agencies can often operate half-legally, which unfortunately can get us into trouble.
- According to Polish law, an employment agency is obliged to have premises where people willing to work or clients looking for employees could report to. If you see that an employment agency only recruits remotely and has no premises, this could mean that it is operating illegally. It is worth checking the employment agency to see if it can be found easily on the internet, if the head office address, contact details etc. are listed. You can also look for a website or profile on social media. If there is little information on the internet about a company that presents itself as an employment agency, it may be illegal.
- It is worth making sure that the agency is clear about any costs and fees associated with its services. Avoid agencies that demand high upfront fees without providing a guarantee of employment.
- Find out how long the agency has been in business and what experience it has in recruitment. The longer a company has been in the market, the more stable it is. A long-standing presence in the market often demonstrates a solid background, credibility and the ability to adapt in changing economic conditions. An agency’s experience also translates into a better understanding of the needs of both employers and employees, which can result in a more effective recruitment process and a higher quality service.
Can an employment agency charge fees to job applicants?
Yes, an employment agency can charge its employees, or job applicants, but only for specific services. An employment agency charges for accommodation, travel to work, for legalisation of documents, obtaining a work permit or a work visa. It may also have chargeable services for translating documents or medical examinations. These are legitimate fees for which any agency can claim payment.
However, it can be seen that illegal employment agencies often try to charge fees for recruitment, or for just finding a job. Such situations should not occur and are illegal.
Employment agency offer
Eurokadra – a legal employment agency has been operating on the Polish market for over 10 years. We deal with recruitment of temporary, permanent and international workers. We focus on legality and compliance with labour law. We have many certificates that prove our reliability and professionalism. If you are looking for work, contact us!
Whether an employment agency is operating legally can be checked in several ways. You can find the status of an employment agency on the National Register of Employment Agencies. It is publicly available, anyone can go to the website and search for the information they need. On the market you can find many companies operating illegally or half-legally, which can deceive you and cause problems. Before choosing an employment agency, it is worth checking all the most important information in order to find the right institution.
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