Comprehensive Guide on Employment Background Checks in the Philippines
Everyday, Veremark carries out background screening all over the world for companies who need checked and verified employees. If you’re looking for background checks in The Philippines, here’s some information that might help.
The Philippines' Growing Economy and Workforce
The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, buoyed by a large, young workforce and increasing foreign direct investments. Key industries such as business process outsourcing (BPO), technology, finance, and manufacturing are expanding rapidly, driving the demand for skilled labor. In such a competitive job market, companies are placing a stronger emphasis on conducting employment background checks to ensure that they are hiring trustworthy and qualified candidates.
Legal Framework and Data Protection in the Philippines
In the Philippines, employment background checks are guided by laws that regulate the collection and use of personal data. The most important regulation is the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173), which mandates that companies obtain the consent of job applicants before collecting personal information. Employers must ensure that data collected is relevant to the job and is processed fairly and transparently. The law also provides individuals with the right to access, correct, and, in some cases, erase their personal data.
Additionally, employers must comply with labor laws, such as the Labor Code of the Philippines, when conducting background checks, ensuring that the rights of employees are protected during the hiring process.
Common Background Checks in the Philippines
Employers in the Philippines typically conduct the following types of background checks:
A criminal history check is essential for roles that require high levels of trust and responsibility. Employers use local sources, including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to verify if a candidate has a criminal record.
This check confirms the accuracy of a candidate’s job history, including positions held, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving. Employment verification helps ensure that candidates are not exaggerating or falsifying their professional experience.
Verifying educational qualifications is common in the Philippines, especially for roles that require specific degrees or certifications. Employers may contact educational institutions directly or use third-party services to confirm that a candidate’s qualifications are legitimate.
Employers, particularly in regulated industries such as finance and government, often conduct checks against international watchlists to ensure that candidates are not involved in activities that could pose a reputational or security risk.
For roles in finance or jobs that involve handling money, a credit history check may be conducted to assess the candidate’s financial responsibility.
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Privacy and Data Security in the Philippines
The Data Privacy Act of 2012 ensures that the collection, processing, and storage of personal data is conducted securely. Employers must obtain the candidate’s consent before performing any background checks and are required to clearly explain the purpose and scope of data collection. Furthermore, personal data must be stored securely and accessed only by authorized personnel to prevent breaches. Employers who fail to comply with the data privacy laws may face penalties and legal actions.
Turnaround Times in the Philippines
The time required to complete background checks in the Philippines can vary depending on the type of screening.
- Criminal record checks through the NBI can take between 7 to 14 business days.
- Employment and education verifications typically take 5 to 10 business days, depending on the responsiveness of the institutions or previous employers.
- Global watchlist screenings are generally faster, with results often available within a few days, depending on the provider and the scope of the check.
The total duration of the process can vary, particularly if the candidate has an international background that requires additional verification.
Turnaround times
Industries Benefiting from Background Checks in the Philippines
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO):
Given the nature of BPO jobs, which often involve handling sensitive customer information, companies conduct thorough background checks to mitigate risks and ensure employee integrity.
Finance
The banking and financial services sector requires strict background checks, including criminal and financial history, to comply with regulatory standards and prevent fraud or reputational damage.
Healthcare
In the healthcare industry, background checks are critical for verifying education, licenses, and criminal history to ensure patient safety.
Government and Public Service
High-level security clearance and comprehensive background checks are required for government roles, particularly those involving access to sensitive or classified information.
Best Practices for Employers in the Philippines
Employers in the Philippines should adopt the following best practices to ensure effective and compliant background checks:
- Obtain Clear Consent: Ensure that candidates are fully informed about the background check process and have provided written consent before the screening begins.
- Use Reputable Background Screening Services: Partner with accredited third-party background check providers who understand the local legal landscape and can ensure accuracy and compliance with data protection laws.
- Tailor Checks to the Job Role: Not all roles require the same level of scrutiny. Employers should determine which checks are most relevant based on the position being filled, ensuring that only necessary data is collected.
- Ensure Transparency: Keep candidates informed about the progress of the background checks and provide them with the opportunity to address any potential discrepancies.
- Protect Data: Implement strong data protection measures in line with the Data Privacy Act, ensuring that personal data is stored securely and that access is limited to authorised individuals.
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Employment background checks are a critical component of the hiring process in the Philippines, helping employers ensure that they are making informed and responsible hiring decisions. By adhering to the country’s legal framework, data protection requirements, and best practices, companies can reduce hiring risks and maintain a trustworthy, compliant workforce.
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FAQs
This depends on the industry and type of role you are recruiting for. To determine whether you need reference checks, identity checks, bankruptcy checks, civil background checks, credit checks for employment or any of the other background checks we offer, chat to our team of dedicated account managers.
Many industries have compliance-related employment check requirements. And even if your industry doesn’t, remember that your staff have access to assets and data that must be protected. When you employ a new staff member you need to be certain that they have the best interests of your business at heart. Carrying out comprehensive background checking helps mitigate risk and ensures a safer hiring decision.
Again, this depends on the type of checks you need. Simple identity checks can be carried out in as little as a few hours but a worldwide criminal background check for instance might take several weeks. A simple pre-employment check package takes around a week. Our account managers are specialists and can provide detailed information into which checks you need and how long they will take.
All Veremark checks are carried out online and digitally. This eliminates the need to collect, store and manage paper documents and information making the process faster, more efficient and ensures complete safety of candidate data and documents.
In a competitive marketplace, making the right hiring decisions is key to the success of your company. Employment background checks enables you to understand more about your candidates before making crucial decisions which can have either beneficial or catastrophic effects on your business.
Background checks not only provide useful insights into a candidate’s work history, skills and education, but they can also offer richer detail into someone’s personality and character traits. This gives you a huge advantage when considering who to hire. Background checking also ensures that candidates are legally allowed to carry out certain roles, failed criminal and credit checks could prevent them from working with vulnerable people or in a financial function.
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