Background Check in Bulgaria

What are the Benefits of Background Checks in Cambodia?

Choosing appropriate background checks can save your global business from common legal troubles. Specific to the labor market of Cambodia, employee screening can benefit you in the following ways:

• Employee screening helps you make smart hiring decisions, reducing the risk of workplace problems like theft or reputation damage.
• It also lets you recognize practical skills gained through hands-on experience or apprenticeships. This helps find candidates ready for the job.
• After screening, you can tailor training and identify further capabilities. This ensures your team is well-prepared for their roles and supporting their development.

What are the Types of Background Checks in Cambodia?

Here’s a breakdown of how you should address background checks in Cambodia for local hiring: 

Criminal record check in Cambodia

Background checks based on criminal history assess a candidate's usefulness for a position, particularly those involving:

• Jobs where the candidate would interact with children, the elderly, or others who might be susceptible to harm. 
• Jobs requiring a high degree of trust often involve a criminal record check.
• Positions with security clearances or those directly involved in law enforcement would naturally necessitate a criminal record check.

Cambodia's Ministry of Justice issues the official "Police Clearance Certificate". Employers require this for criminal record checks. In most countries, police conduct the check. 

Employment history check

Employee screening in Cambodia involving employment history analyzes reasons for career gaps and assesses the candidate's overall career trajectory and commitment: 

• The most recommended option is to conduct reference verification. 
• Personal solid connections hold significant weight in Cambodian work culture. 
• Background checks in Cambodia based on work references may confirm previous employment details. It also gauges the candidate's reputation and work ethic within their network.

However, verifying past employment with smaller Cambodian companies can be challenging because of the less developed HR infrastructure. You may leverage professional networks to gather insights beyond just formal references.

Medical screening

Employee background check in Cambodia based on medical records is a continuous process. It identifies potential health risks associated with specific jobs and workplaces: 

• You must ask employees to undergo medical check-ups every two years in Cambodia. 
• Determining job-related disease types, ranges, and prevalence is necessary. 
• The employer is responsible for bearing the costs of such medical check-ups.

If you skip medical check-ups, you may have to pay a fine. The ministry can fine you up to KHR 10.08 million (about USD 2,520). A court can also fine you up to KHR 14.4 million (about USD 3,600). 

Credit history check

Credit history checks can help you assess a candidate's financial responsibility. Especially for positions like cashiers, accountants, or specially designated persons handling company finances and credit cards. 

Credit reporting in Cambodia might not be as comprehensive as developed economies. This potentially limits the scope of information available in a credit check.

Education history

In Cambodia, education history checks may go beyond simply verifying a claimed degree. 

You can also consider candidates' education records to address skill gaps.

These arise from differences in curriculum during their education compared to the current requirements. 

This will allow you to tailor training programs or assess if additional capabilities are necessary.

Social media check

A background check in Cambodia based on social media profiles is a less conventional way to assess potential hires. It typically involves assessing a candidate informally and answering the following questions: 

• Are their posts appropriate and avoid hostility towards previous employers or colleagues?
• Does the candidate's online persona align with the company's values and culture?
• Are there any posts suggesting illegal activities, drug use, or behavior that could harm the company's image? 

You could answer many more such questions. However, you should be mindful of personal data privacy boundaries and focus only on publicly available information.

Additionally, you may also consider various relocation needs. They include culture awareness training, cost-of-living adjustments, and language and housing support. This ensures a smoother transition for your international employee in Cambodia.

Requirements for Background Check in Cambodia

You must have written permission from the candidate to do a background check. There are also other requirements to keep in mind. 

Candidate Identification: 

• Photocopy of the candidate's passport bio page (showing full name, date of birth, and photo).
• A letter from the commune (Sangkat) office verifying the candidate's current or past residence in Cambodia. 

Data Privacy: 

• Ensure compliance with Cambodian data privacy regulations regarding personal information collected during the background check process.

Steps in Conducting Background Check in Cambodia

Here are general guidelines on how you can conduct a background check in Cambodia:

Step 1: Preparation

• Obtain candidate consent: Secure written consent from the candidate, allowing you to conduct various background checks in Cambodia.
• Gather candidate information: Collect necessary details from the candidate, including:

• Full legal name and any aliases used
• Date of birth
• Current and past Cambodian addresses
• Detailed employment history with company names, locations, and dates of employment
• Educational institutions attended with locations and graduation dates
• Social media username/handles

Step 2: Initiate criminal record check

• Ask the candidate to obtain a criminal record check form from the Ministry of Justice. Instead, they can use the CR-MOJ app to apply digitally. 
• Cambodia recently implemented a digital application process to obtain the certificate, making it faster and more convenient.
• You might need a criminal record check from the candidate's home country for international relocation. 

Step 3: Begin other background checks simultaneously:

• Contact previous employers and schools, this might involve:some text
  • Phone calls: Consider time zone differences when contacting international institutions.
  • Emails: Craft professional emails outlining the verification request and providing contact information for reference.
  • Verification forms: Some institutions may provide standardized verification forms that individuals can fill out and return.
  • Reference checks: Contact the candidate's references to learn more. Like their personality, work ethic, skills, and suitableness for employers background and the position.   
• Your internal HR department can attempt to gather public information on social media to assess the candidate. 

Are Employee Background Checks Legal in Cambodia?

Yes, employee background checks are legal in Cambodia. 

Background checks include employee screening, rental applications, and security clearances. However, you must comply with comply with Cambodian laws and regulations: 

• Mandatory consent before conducting any employee screening in Cambodia. 
• Data privacy regulations enforce that the information collected during the background check is:
  • Relevant to the job
  • Collected in a fair and lawful manner
  • Stored securely and only for a reasonable period

Furthermore, conducting background checks in a compliant manner strengthens your corporate identity by demonstrating respect for employee rights, commitment to ethical practices, and fulfilling workplace safety and security regulations.

Planning to Hire in Cambodia? Here’s How Skuad Can Help

Forming a global team may involve more than hiring. You require a dedicated solution to stay compliant with local labor laws while screening candidates and administering payroll and benefits.

Skuad creates a clear and concise policy outlining the types of background checks conducted. The information collected, and the consent process with an Employer of Service (EOR) offering. You can seamlessly onboard, pay, and manage a global workforce with a clean background on Skuad’s unified platform. 

Take your free demo today!

FAQs

Q1. What are the employment laws in Cambodia?

A1. Cambodian employment laws offer broad protections. They outline an eight-hour workday and regulate minimum wage, overtime pay, and leave benefits. Foreign employees require work permits and adhere to specific regulations.

Q2. What are the working conditions in Cambodia?

A2. Working conditions in Cambodia can vary greatly and are industry-specific. However, Cambodia prescribes an eight-hour workday, mandatory rest periods, and paid leave. 

Q3. How to get a criminal background check in Cambodia?

A3. You can download the CR-MOJ app and follow the instructions to submit your application digitally. You can also visit the Criminal Office at the Ministry of Justice in Phnom Penh with the required documents. It includes a completed application form, passport photocopy, photograph, bio-data form, and a residence certification letter.

Q4. What does screening mean for employers?

A4. For employers, screening involves evaluating and assessing potential employees to determine their role fit. It typically involves verifying resumes, checking references and criminal records, and reviewing educational credentials or social media profiles.