Germany expands free legal advice for non-EU workers through Fair Integration
Since the start of the year, Germany has broadened the free, confidential Fair Integration service that helps non-EU employees with workplace issues such as unpaid wages and contract disputes.
Germany’s Fair Integration programme, managed by the Competence Centre for Fair Integration, provides free, confidential workplace guidance to non-EU workers in multiple languages. Recent reforms let prospective employees seek advice before moving to Germany and enable them to contact advisers in any state, choosing by language or background. The service does not represent clients in court but explains options, clarifies contracts and helps assess next steps.
In 2025 the centre recorded almost 10,000 initial consultations and more than 5,000 follow-up sessions, reaching over 13,600 individuals, especially in hospitality, health, cleaning, logistics, construction and manufacturing. Common problems include unpaid wages, overtime, sick-pay issues and unclear termination terms. Experts advise workers to demand written contracts, keep original documents safe, verify employer details and open a bank account early to avoid cash payments.
