How to Legally Hire Unskilled and Semi-Skilled Workers from Non-EU Countries

In 2025, there is a severe labor shortage in many European industries, particularly in Poland. The need for unskilled and semi-skilled laborers is still increasing in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, warehousing, construction, and agriculture. As a result, in order to effectively and legally hire foreign workers, many businesses are turning to international recruitment agencies. Here's how to hire unskilled workers in Europe, especially from non-EU countries, without breaking any laws if you want to grow your team.

Understand Local Labor Laws and EU Hiring Regulations

Employers must be aware of local labor law compliance requirements before hiring foreign workers. Employing non-EU workers in nations like Poland requires adherence to stringent regulations regarding work permits, employment contracts, and social insurance. Maintaining legal compliance guarantees a seamless onboarding process and helps you stay out of trouble, whether you're hiring unskilled laborers in Poland or elsewhere in the EU.

Define Job Roles Clearly for Unskilled and Semi-Skilled Workers

A clear distinction between unskilled and semi-skilled job roles helps streamline the recruitment and visa process. Unskilled jobs may include warehouse helpers, cleaners, and packers, while semi-skilled roles often involve operating machinery, using hand tools, or working on assembly lines. Defining roles properly improves targeting in your manpower agency recruitment strategy.

Work with a Certified International Recruitment Agency

The easiest and most compliant way to hire foreign workers is through a certified international recruitment agency in Poland like EU Prime Serwis. Agencies handle everything—from sourcing candidates and verifying documents to organizing legal hiring of non-EU workers and supporting their work visa application.

At EU Prime Serwis, we help European employers with the legal recruitment of unskilled and semi-skilled workers from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and African countries.

Apply for the Correct Work Permits or Visas

To lawfully employ non-EU workers, Poland offers two primary work permit types:

Employment Declaration (O?wiadczenie): for seasonal and temporary work (up to 6 months).

For full-time employment lasting longer than six months, a type A work permit is required.

The paperwork, embassy scheduling, and ensuring the candidate obtains the Poland work visa lawfully will be handled by a skilled manpower agency in Poland.

Provide Legal Onboarding: Accommodation, Insurance & Contracts

Employers are in charge of making sure the worker has a legally binding employment contract in a language they can understand, adequate accommodations, and basic health insurance after they arrive. In addition to being mandated by law, ethical onboarding increases employee retention and productivity.

Maintain Ongoing Compliance and Worker Support

The process of hiring foreign employees doesn't end with onboarding. In Poland, employers are required to register employees with ZUS (Social Security) and maintain records of contract extensions and visa modifications. In order to guarantee complete adherence to European labor regulations and reduce legal risk, EU Prime Minister Serwis provides continuous assistance.