OUR CORPORATE PRINCIPLES

Start Placement – Startcon GmbH

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES FOR THE PLACEMENT OF FOREIGN NURSING STAFF

1. We are committed to fair and ethical recruitment and placement practices in accordance with the guiding principles of the “Faire Anwerbung Pflege Deutschland” seal of approval.
   .
2. We work in accordance with the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. In particular, recruitment must not take place in countries that are listed on the current WHO health workforce support and safeguards list.
   .
3. We are committed to the ILO core labor standards, in particular the ILO General principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment: ILO General principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment and definition of recruitment fees and related costs.
   .
4. We are committed to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and to compliance with international UN human rights conventions.
   .
5. We are committed to the “Employer Pays” principle; this means that neither direct nor indirect placement costs are borne by the foreign nursing staff. This also applies to costs for other services directly related to the placement.
   .
6. Selection of cooperation partners: We work with carefully selected cooperation partners in Germany and abroad. Transparency and fairness are also guiding principles for our cooperation partners.
   .
7. Our cooperation partners in Germany and abroad adhere to the guiding principles of the “Fair Recruitment Care Germany” seal of approval and the “Employer Pays” principle and do not take any money from the foreign nursing staff for the placement. Nor do they take any money for other services directly related to the placement.
   .
8. Our cooperation partners in Germany and abroad ensure compliance with the  WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel and that they do not recruit from countries on the WHO health workforce support and safeguards list.
   .
9. Our cooperation partners in Germany and abroad are committed to the ILO core labor standards and to the ILO General principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment and definition of recruitment fees and related costs.
   .
10. Our cooperation partners in Germany and abroad are committed to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and to compliance with international UN human rights conventions.
    .
11. We ensure a high quality of German lessons by carefully selecting the language schools we work with and regularly observing our candidates’ lessons.
    .
12. Together with our cooperation partners abroad, we explain to our candidates how they can have their foreign qualifications recognized in Germany. To this end, we translate and explain to our candidates the form for applying for recognition of their foreign qualifications in Germany. Together with our cooperation partners abroad, we support our candidates in collecting the necessary documents and provide information on translations and certifications. We are familiar with the requirements imposed by the authorities of the relevant federal states and are in contact with these authorities. We take the associated deadlines (timeline) into account when planning the overall project. We only work with sworn translators or translators listed by the German embassy for official documents such as birth certificates, university degrees, etc.
    .
13. Residence permits: We support our candidates in applying for residence permits. We translate and explain the official form for applying for a visa or transferring a residence permit to our candidates and help them with the application. Thanks to our experience, we are familiar with dealing with the authorities, the meanings of the terms, documents and deadlines used in the entry application form. We pass this knowledge on to our candidates and help them to complete the form. For legal questions, we refer the candidates to a lawyer for residence law, with whom we cooperate. We are in contact with the authorities responsible for residence permits (embassies, consulates) in the skilled workers’ country of origin and in Germany (immigration authorities, employment agency).
    .
14. Integration concept: Together with our clients from the healthcare sector, we develop a mutually supported concept for the integration and onboarding of skilled workers in Germany.
    .
15. Accreditations: If the candidate’s home country requires prior accreditation (this is a requirement in countries such as the Philippines), we take care of proper accreditation in advance and provide the employer with proof of accreditation. If accreditation is required, we also support the employer in the accreditation process. We provide information about the necessary processes and costs in advance of the placement.
    .
16. We support our candidates throughout the entire process (language course, recruiting, matching, entry, recognition, integration, onboarding). We are always available to answer any questions.
    .
17. In the placement contracts for our nursing professionals, we refrain from including provisions on commitment and repayment clauses that refer to the placement costs or to costs for services directly associated with the placement or that conflict with the legal framework for commitment and repayment clauses stipulated in German labor law. This also applies to possible ancillary agreements and/or agreements that contradict the “employer pays” principle.
    .
18. We are committed to ensuring that neither the employment contracts for the jobs placed by us nor the entire context of the placed employment relationship contain any provisions on commitment and repayment clauses for our nursing professionals that relate to the placement costs or to costs for services directly associated with the placement or that conflict with the legal framework for commitment and repayment clauses under German labor law. This also applies to possible side agreements and/or arrangements that contradict the “employer pays” principle.
    .
19. We attach great importance to transparent processes. Wherever necessary and possible, regulations and placement conditions are recorded in writing so that all parties involved in the process can view them at any time. This applies to both the placement conditions and the associated costs; collaboration with cooperation partners, information on the placement project, recognition and entry for care professionals, integration concepts, etc.
    .

May 2024