Well, if you have to give the company that "hires" you money, it is pay to flay, after all you have to pay them first. Real employers pay you first, they still might insist on a bond, but that is not money up front, only have to pay that if you leave earlier than the bond expires. Over here more than 12 months would probably not hold in a court of law, although some CLAs have 24 months in them.