Employment Protection Tips for Immigrants

At HHWA Member Resources, it is important to us that our members make well-informed decisions when it comes to their well-being and interests as consumers – especially regarding scams targeting immigrants. Our goal is to help provide a level of protection through awareness, education, preparation, organization, and if needed, legal representation.

One area where there are risks of falling victim to a scam are the so-called employment agencies who claim to be able to help those most in need of finding work.

Tips to Remember

An employment agency is what employers use to find new employees, and what jobseekers use to locate potential jobs for free. If you plan on utilizing an employment agency to find work, remember these tips:

• Ensure your agency is licensed. Employment agencies must have a Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) license.
• Avoid agencies who ‘guarantee’ jobs. There is not always a guarantee, because agencies can only refer you to jobs available, and that pay at least minimum wage.
• Request a written contract. It should include info like the agency’s DCA license number, type of work, prices, and the schedule for fee payments.
• Review the contract with a lawyer. If you are nervous or don’t understand the contract, you should have the document reviewed by a lawyer. You can take advantage of this benefit through our legal plan, here.
• Do not answer any questions that are not job qualification-related. It is illegal for an employer or agency to ask you about your age, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, gender, marital status, disability, partnership or caregiver status, sexual orientation, and your alienage or citizenship status.
• Do not give the employment agency money. Remember that when it comes to fees, employment agencies cannot charge you before they place you on a job, and the fee cannot exceed the maximum amount in that state’s law (if any fee, at all).

By law, city employment agencies that provide direct social services are required to arrange for interpretation and translation in your first language. If an employment agency won’t do this for you, you should leave and find an alternative.They also cannot ask about your immigration status unless it is necessary to determine job eligibility.