← Know Your Rights
Recruitment
Employment contracts
The written contract, not verbal promises, is what actually protects you.
What it means
- An employment contract is the written, signed agreement describing your job, pay, hours, housing, and conditions.
- Only the written contract is generally enforceable. Verbal promises made during recruitment are easy to deny later.
- 'Contract substitution' happens when the contract you sign abroad is different from the one you agreed to at home.
Warning signs
- You are not shown a contract until just before travel.
- The contract is in a language you do not read fluently, with no translation offered.
- The salary, job title, or hours in the contract differ from what was advertised.
- You are told you will 'sign a better contract once you arrive.'
- You are discouraged from taking time to read it carefully.
What to do
- Request the contract in writing, in a language you understand, before you commit to anything.
- Read every page. Ask questions about anything unclear.
- Keep your own signed copy, both physical and photographed or scanned.
- Compare the contract you sign abroad against the one you were shown at home.
- If a new contract appears after you arrive, do not sign it under pressure. Ask for time and, if possible, outside advice.
Where to seek help
- A qualified labor lawyer or legal aid clinic in your home country or destination country.
- A worker's rights organization that operates in the destination country.
- Your embassy or consulate in the destination country.
This is general information, not country-specific legal advice. Local hotlines, embassy contacts, and vetted referral partners will appear here as SafePath expands into each region.