Is a Good Resume Enough for Hiring in the Philippines? Background Checks Are the Real Key!
Hiring in the Philippines can feel like a treasure hunt—except most of the time, you don’t find treasure, you just keep stepping on landmines. Many companies face these common hiring nightmares:
Scenario 1: Last-Minute No-Show
A candidate promises to show up for work but sends a message at midnight: “Sorry, I won’t be coming…” Some don’t even bother to give a reason—they simply disappear.
Scenario 2: A Resume That Looks Great, But…
The candidate impresses you during the interview, but once on the job, they can’t even use Excel, write a proper email, or communicate effectively. Time wasted.
Scenario 3: The Vanishing Act
An employee is working fine one day, then suddenly stops responding to calls or messages. Just like that, they’re gone without a trace.
Scenario 4: Never-Ending Absences
One day it's a sick family member, the next it’s a wedding in their village—some employees have endless reasons to take leave, while work piles up and deadlines are missed.
Scenario 5: Legal Risks & Labor Disputes
In the Philippines, employees can leave anytime, but terminating an underperforming worker is a legal minefield. One wrong move, and you’ll receive a letter from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), leading to mediation, arbitration, or costly settlements.
These aren’t rare cases—they happen every day. One of our clients, Mr. A, did the math: for every three hires, at least one turns out to have integrity issues. And for every five hires, two fail to show up at all.
But the biggest challenge? When you finally decide to terminate an unqualified employee, they may weaponize the country's employee-friendly Labor Code against you!
Why Do Companies Keep "Stepping on Landmines" in Hiring?
Many businesses rely on domestic hiring strategies when recruiting overseas. They translate resumes into English, trust self-reported work history, and conduct simple Google searches for background checks.
But hiring in the Philippines is a completely different game. Using local hiring methods is like navigating a minefield with a compass—it looks like you're on the right track, but you're actually in danger at every step.
Here’s the harsh reality:
Fake Work Experience is Common
Around 57% of applicants purchase fake job references from underground agencies.Some Employees Exploit the Labor Code
They work for a few months, then create a situation where you violate labor laws, forcing you to terminate them—so they can claim compensation.Hidden Histories Stay Hidden
Without proper background checks, you won’t know if an applicant has a history of theft, fraud, or problematic behavior at previous jobs.
How We Solve the Hiring Challenge
At Philong Legal, we don’t just help businesses stay compliant with Philippine labor laws—we help them avoid bad hires from the start.
Step 1: Rigorous Screening Process
We don’t just review resumes. We conduct background checks, reference verification, and in-depth interviews to ensure candidates are qualified and reliable before they even step into your office.
Step 2: Legal Experts Ensuring Compliance
Most recruiters don’t truly understand Philippine labor laws—but we do. We make sure your employment contracts, company policies, and dismissal procedures are legally sound, minimizing your risk.
Step 3: Ongoing Legal Support
Want to prevent labor disputes before they happen? Our legal team provides proactive compliance strategies. Already dealing with employee lawsuits, absences, or wrongful termination claims? We handle labor arbitration and legal defense to protect your company.
Hiring in the Philippines? Let the Experts Handle It!
Finding reliable employees in the Philippines is challenging—but hiring without proper screening, compliance checks, and risk management makes it even harder.
Let us help you! With our professional recruitment process + legal support, we ensure every employee you hire is trustworthy and qualified, helping you build a stable, efficient, and legally compliant team.
Say goodbye to hiring headaches—partner with us for a safer, smarter recruitment process!