Since the establishment of the legal framework governing recruitment offices abroad, more than 90 complaints have been filed with justice against illegal or fraudulent agencies, said on Monday, October 6, 2025 Ahmed Messaoudi, director general of recruitment abroad and foreign workforce at the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training.
Invited on national radio waves, Messaoudi said 33 complaints had been recorded since the start of 2025, warning job seekers against unauthorized agencies.
According to him, these institutions practice illegal activities ranging from scam to extortion, and in some cases reach the threshold of human trafficking, in particular with regard to young women. “95 % of the contracts provided by these agencies are fictitious,” he said. Several candidates discovered when they arrived at the airport that their visas and contracts were falsified, while others found themselves faced with a very difficult reality when leaving the national territory.
The ministry, in coordination with the security authorities, proceeds to the closure of illegal offices and to the prohibition of their activity. The teams also follow complaints and reports published on social networks to identify fraudulent practices.
To strengthen the fight against these abuses, a bill is being prepared. It provides for severe sanctions for illegal agencies: up to five years in prison and a fine of 20,000 dinars. The text also introduces the obligation to sign a mediation contract specifying the obligations of each party and authorizing the immediate closure of unauthorized agencies as well as the blocking of their online sites and pages.
