What men weigh most when working abroad
Money comes first, but security is right behind it. Seasonal work on a farm or in a warehouse through an agency often means you are looking again after three months. The third thing is language: most offers say "no language required", but in practice you are alone at the workplace and nobody explains anything.
The fourth thing people forget is accommodation. If you pay for it yourself, 300 to 500 euros a month disappear from your pay. So compare not the gross hourly rate, but what is left after accommodation, transport and fees.
Why scaffolding beats a warehouse or a farm
Scaffolding work in Germany is year-round, not seasonal. Sites run in winter too, and scaffolding has to be erected and dismantled at every stage. A well-drilled crew has continuous work and does not have to look for the next job after every project.
Our pay starts at EUR 16 per hour and goes up after the trial period, and with usually 50+ hours a week that is a regular income, not a side job. Accommodation and transport are not deducted from your pay. That is a difference you usually do not get in a warehouse through an agency.
And language: in a Slovak crew a Slovak-speaking foreman talks to you. He communicates with the German site manager, you focus on the work. German is an advantage, not a condition.
What you need to start
As a scaffolding helper you do not need scaffolding experience. You need fitness, reliability and willingness to learn. Scaffolding assembly is a trade you learn on site from the more experienced guys in the crew.
If you already have experience with Layher or Peri UP, you start as a scaffolder. If you also speak German, you can lead a crew and earn more. We help you get the safety and work-at-height training before the start.
How it works in practice: rotations, accommodation, transport
Work is done in rotations: three or four weeks on site in Germany, then a week off at home. The length is set by project and agreement. The trip from Slovakia to the site and back is handled by the company.
Accommodation is paid and close to the site, maximum two per room, with a kitchen and washing machine. The crew lives together, so you are not alone in a foreign city.
What to avoid in job offers abroad
Placement fees. A serious company does not charge you for the job. Promises without a contract: if someone names a figure but will not put it on paper, do not take it. Accommodation "at your own expense" in an unclear amount that eats a third of your pay.
And offers where you do not know who your employer is. You should know who you have a contract with, who pays you and who to turn to when something is wrong. With us it is one company and one foreman on site.
Want to work on scaffolding in Germany without speaking German? See what we offer and how to apply.