Policy statement on responsible corporate governance

International recruitment of nursing professionals at CBT

(Caritas-Betriebsführungs- und Trägergesellschaft mbH)

As a Catholic provider in elderly care, CBT operates on the basis of the Christian understanding of humanity. The dignity of every person, justice, solidarity, and responsibility shape our corporate actions.

International nursing professionals make an important contribution to ensuring high-quality care. We understand their recruitment not as a purely economic process, but as a responsible task in the sense of a sustainable and ethically based personnel strategy.

The quality seal “Fair Recruitment Care Germany” is therefore both an aspiration and an obligation for us. Our corporate governance is consistently aligned with its criteria as well as with the values of Caritas.

We commit ourselves to the following principles:

1. Our guiding principles

1.1 Transparency and reliability through written documentation

All contracts, placement conditions, and job offers are fully and clearly documented in writing. Nursing professionals receive all information in good time before signing the contract and in an understandable language. If necessary, qualified language support is provided.

1.2 Cost-free recruitment for nursing professionals

International recruitment is completely free of charge for nursing professionals. CBT applies the Employer-Pays Principle without restriction: all direct and indirect costs – in particular for language courses, recognition procedures, visas, and travel – are covered by the employer.

1.3 Protection against financial risks

Nursing professionals are neither required to pay deposits nor advance payments or provide any other securities. Contracts are designed transparently and exclude financial risks for the recruited professionals.

1.4 Disclosure of structures and processes

All steps of recruitment – from selection through qualification to integration – are clearly defined and documented in a comprehensible way. Scope of services, responsibilities, and cost allocation are communicated openly and regulated in a binding manner.

1.5 Sustainable integration into the service community

International nursing professionals are regarded as equal members of our service community. CBT supports integration through:

• Structured onboarding concepts
• Professional and language support
• Intercultural awareness
• Support with recognition procedures and administrative processes

Our goal is a long-term professional perspective and successful social integration.

1.6 Responsibility along the entire process chain

CBT assumes overall responsibility for compliance with these guiding principles – also towards all domestic and international cooperation partners. Contractual partners commit themselves to complying with our ethical and quality standards.

2. International standards and ethical framework conditions

Our international recruitment is based on recognised international guidelines:

WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel

Recruitment from countries with critical shortages of healthcare professionals is not carried out. Currently, CBT focuses on recruiting nursing professionals from various countries.

ILO core labour standards

We respect freedom of association, guarantee occupational safety and health, and reject any form of discrimination, forced labour, or child labour.

ILO guidelines on fair recruitment

Recruitment fees for employees are excluded. Transparency regarding costs is mandatory.

UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Through clearly structured procedures and internal review mechanisms, we ensure that human rights are respected throughout the entire recruitment process.

UN human rights conventions

Respect for human dignity is a fundamental principle of CBT’s actions.

3. Additional self-commitments of CBT

Beyond the above standards, CBT commits itself to the following provisions:

Consistent application of the Employer-Pays Principle

During the entire recruitment and placement process, nursing professionals incur no costs whatsoever – neither directly nor indirectly.

Waiver of binding and repayment clauses

Employment and placement contracts do not include repayment obligations for recruitment or placement costs, unless legally required.

Placement in fair, collectively agreed employment relationships

CBT exclusively places candidates in legally compliant employment contracts without cost obligations for nursing professionals.

Our commitment

International recruitment of nursing professionals at CBT means:

• Taking responsibility
• Treating people with dignity
• Practising transparency
• Ensuring sustainability

We understand international nursing professionals as an enrichment of our charitable work and as equal partners in our responsibility for people in need of care.

This policy statement enters into force immediately and is binding for all international recruitment processes of CBT – Caritas-Betriebsführungs- und Trägergesellschaft mbH.

Welcome to the CBT complaint management system

The CBT – Caritas Betriebsführung- und Trägergesellschaft mbH sees itself as a responsible employer that practices fairness, transparency, and respect towards all employees.

Especially in international recruitment, we place the highest importance on ensuring that all nursing staff and trainees feel safe and taken seriously at all times.

Therefore, we have established a structured, confidential, and easily accessible complaint management system that is open to all international applicants, nursing staff, trainees, and partners.

Our aim is to identify possible problems or misunderstandings at an early stage and resolve them constructively, ensure fair procedures, protect the rights and well-being of international nursing staff, and derive concrete improvements for our processes from every piece of feedback.

Every complaint is handled confidentially, respectfully, and independently. This is how you can submit a complaint

How does the complaint process work?

Our complaint procedure is clear, transparent, and time-defined:

• Receipt of the complaint
• Every complaint is registered upon receipt and assigned a date of receipt.
• Within 5 working days you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt.
• Review and processing
• Your complaint will be reviewed by the responsible CBT contact person.
• If necessary, additional information will be requested.
• All information is treated confidentially.

Feedback and proposed solution

Within a maximum of 3 weeks after receipt, you will receive feedback on the outcome of the review or the planned measures.

If clarification requires more time, you will be informed about the status.

Confidentiality and protection against disadvantage

CBT guarantees that:

every complaint is processed without any disadvantages or negative consequences for the reporting person, data is protected in accordance with data protection regulations (GDPR), and all parties involved are treated with respect and appreciation.

Learning organization

Every complaint is seen as an opportunity for improvement. The results are regularly incorporated into our internal quality processes in order to further strengthen transparency, fairness, and integration quality.

Your contact persons

How to submit a complaint:

By email:
Recruiting.International@cbt-gmbh.de

By post:
CBT gGmbH
International Recruiting Department
Attn. Ms. Shala or Ms. Allstädt
Leonhard-Tietz-Straße 8
50676 Cologne

Data protection information for applicants (Please click to download)