About us

Fair Integration

Fair Integration is a nationwide counselling service on social and labour law issues for refugees and other migrants from outside of Europe (third-country nationals). Fair Integration is funded by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS).

The advice centres cover labour and social law issues directly related to the employment relationship, e.g.: Wages, working hours, leave, dismissal, health insurance and many more. For other thematic issues - e.g. job search or residence status - referrals are made to specialised counselling centres and institutions.

In the advice centres people who are already in work, training or internship can get advice on specific questions. Preventive counselling on working conditions is also possible. The counselling centres also offer workshops, e.g. as part of integration or language courses.

The advice centres support those seeking advice in protecting themselves from exploitation and discrimination and in defending themselves against it. Knowledge of one's own rights and obligations in an employment relationship is essential. This knowledge is the basis for overcoming precarious employment conditions and finding decent employment in Germany.

The advice centres work together closely with other advice centres and support structures. Cooperation partners also include stakeholders from cities and communities, trade unions, Chambers and the labour administration.

Fair Integration is the responsibility of various organizations (Trägerorganisationen) in the individual federal states.  People from European countries seeking advice can contact the DGB advisory network Fair Mobility, which provides information on labor and social law issues to people from Central and Eastern Europe.

Competence Centre for Fair Integration

Fair integration is supported by the Competence Centre for Fair Integration. It is managed by the IQ Consult gGmbH, a non-profit organization for cosmopolitanism, tolerance, and diversity, which is a 100% affiliated company of the DGB Bildungswerk e.V. and works closely with the DGB trade unions.

The main tasks of the Competence Centre for Fair Integration are:

  • Training courses for the advisors of the Fair Integration counselling centres
  • Conducting networking meetings for the advisors of the fair integration advice centres for the regular exchange of experience and knowledge
  • Further support for the Fair Integration advice centres on difficult counselling issues and through the development of practical aids
  • Preparation of counselling content in exchange with the counselling centres, e.g., in the form of case descriptions and dossiers
  • Central public relations work for the overall structure of Fair Integration as well as processing and transfer of the knowledge gained to politics and the interested (professional) public
  • Direct advice to refugees and third-country nationals on employment and social law issues
  • Conception and provision of specific information events and group offers for refugees and third-country nationals in cooperation with the Fair Integration advice centres.