If you’re hiring from overseas in 2025, how you do it is just as important as who you hire.
With immigration rules tightening and public scrutiny growing, employers are under pressure to not just fill roles but do it ethically, legally, and sustainably. And for good reason. When ethical recruitment is done right, it protects your business, supports your team, and attracts long-term talent.
Here’s what ethical international hiring really means today and how to avoid the common pitfalls.
What ethical hiring actually involves
Ethical hiring goes far beyond ticking visa boxes. It’s about ensuring every worker is treated fairly, protected under the law, and supported to succeed.
In practice, that means:
- Hiring through licensed, government-approved recruitment agencies.
- Not charging workers recruitment or visa fees (illegal in NZ and AU).
- Providing clear job descriptions, contracts, and expectations.
- Supporting relocation, orientation, and settlement.
- Meeting all obligations as a sponsoring employer.
It’s not just a moral choice it’s a smart business one.
Why ethical recruitment matters more than ever
1. It protects your business
Immigration authorities in NZ and AU are increasing audits, and penalties for non-compliance are steep including loss of accreditation and bans on future hiring.
2. It drives better retention
Migrants who feel informed, supported, and respected are more likely to stay. Ethical hiring builds trust from the start and that trust leads to loyalty.
3. It builds your reputation
In today’s market, your employer brand matters. Doing things the right way sends a powerful signal to candidates, staff, customers and regulators.
What can go wrong and how to avoid it
| Common Pitfall | What Happens | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| Unlicensed recruiters | Illegal fees and worker exploitation | Use government-accredited agencies only |
| Confusing contracts | Misunderstandings, early exits | Provide plain-English, bilingual job offers |
| Charging the worker | Legal breaches, poor retention | Cover all recruitment and visa costs yourself |
| No onboarding or support | Isolation, stress, drop-off risk | Provide relocation and settlement help |
| Compliance blind spots | Fines, loss of hiring rights | Get expert help managing visa and sponsor obligations |
What good looks like
Ethical hiring is about setting people up for long-term success which in turn builds business resilience. The best employers today are:
- Starting with clarity by providing realistic job previews
- Prioritising settlement and not just immigration paperwork
- Communicating PR pathways showing workers they have a future
- Thinking long term, planning 12–24 months ahead, not 12–24 days
So where do you start?
This is where Working In comes in.
We’ve spent over 25 years helping employers across New Zealand and Australia build skilled, stable teams from overseas while staying fully compliant and ethically sound.
Here’s what makes us different:
- We do everything in-house. That means no handovers or delays between recruiter, adviser, and relocation support.
- We only recruit ethically. All partners are government-licensed. Candidates pay no placement fees ever.
- We guide every step. From job scoping and LMT to relocation and PR planning, we stay with you and your hire for the long term.
- We support the whole person. Because workers who are supported (in life and at work) stay longer, perform better, and contribute more.
We’ve helped hundreds of employers (from national healthcare providers and major builders to schools and small business owners) navigate global hiring with confidence.
