What a good agent contract looks like from both sides

Recruitment agreements are usually drafted by one side's legal team and presented as final. The result is enforceable and frequently ineffective, because an agency that feels exposed simply allocates effort elsewhere.

Clauses worth getting right

• Commission trigger and timing, with the withdrawal and deferral cases written out rather than left to interpretation.
• Territory and exclusivity, stated in plain terms. Ambiguity here produces the most disputes.
• Data handling, naming the lawful basis and what happens to applicant data on termination. Vietnamese personal data rules apply regardless of where the institution sits.
• Brand use. What the agency may say and show, and what it may not. Vague permission produces material you would not have approved.
• Termination and files in progress. Who finishes the applications already lodged, and who is paid for them.

The clause that signals good faith

A review point after one intake, with both sides expected to bring numbers. It turns an underperforming arrangement into a conversation rather than a quiet decline.

A test before signing

Ask whether you would accept the agreement if you were on the other side of it. If the answer is no, expect the effort you receive to reflect that.

How VNIS documents partnerships: Master Agent in Vietnam →