Background Check in Vietnam

What are the Benefits of Background Checks in Vietnam?

When you hire any new employee, you invest a significant amount of time and resources after their training and upskilling. 

The hope is that they will stay with the organization in the long run and contribute to its growth and success.

An employee screening in Vietnam carries enormous significance, as it helps ensure the candidates are the perfect fit for your business. 

Additionally, it also carries other benefits such as, 

• More consistent safety and security

A background check reveals details about a candidate’s past that might make them unsuitable for the organization. 

It also helps to provide a detailed overview of an individual's behavior trends that could pose a problem in the future. 

It ultimately leads to a more safe and secure work environment.

• Improved regulatory compliance

An extensive employee screening in Vietnam can help you satisfy industry standards and ensure compliance with federal regulatory requirements, which usually vary by job type and state. 

Without this, you will likely be charged with hefty legal penalties and face other challenges.

• Ensure the accuracy of employment qualifications.

A recent report revealed that as much as 70% of job applicants lie about their qualifications in their resumes or cover letters. 

In most cases, these individuals assume that their employers will never cross-verify the information by contacting their previous employers. 

This ultimately results in hiring candidates who are ill-fitted for the job. 

An employee screening in Vietnam can help you avoid these mistakes and make better and more informed hiring decisions.

What are the Types of Background Checks in Vietnam?

When handling international employee relocation, you can conduct the following background check in Vietnam: 

Criminal record check

• In Vietnam, a criminal record check or a police clearance certificate is commonly referred to as the Judicial Record Card.
• It is primarily issued by the provincial Department of Justice, where the applicant resides. 
• A Judicial Record Card can be granted to Vietnamese and foreign nationals currently residing in this country.
• There are four main ways to apply for a criminal record check in Vietnam: by post, direct application, authorized application, and online application. The documents required for this purpose usually differ based on the application method. Once you have submitted your application and paid the related expenses, you will receive your Judicial Record Card in 15-20 days.
• The documents required for this purpose usually differ based on the application method. 
• Once you have submitted your application and paid the related expenses, you will receive your Judicial Record Card in 15-20 days.

Employment history check

• When conducting an employee screening in Vietnam, it is a common practice to conduct employment history checks and verify the work experience of prospective employees.
• This includes information related to their past employers, date of employment, position held, or if there has been any workplace misconduct.
• The ultimate goal of an employment history check is to mitigate the risks of hiring an individual with falsified credentials.

Medical screening

• Medical screening is a key part of the application process for employment in Vietnam.
• A licensed hospital or medical establishment in Vietnam usually issues a health check certificate. It proves that the individual is physically fit to carry out the tasks required for the job.
• The medical screening process in Vietnam usually involves a basic physical examination, such as a vital signs test, blood and urine tests, an ECG, and a stool sample.

Credit history check

• In the simplest terms, a credit history check refers to a person’s ability to manage bills and credit payments.
• Essentially, it indicates whether the said individual is financially responsible or if there has been any financial trouble in the past.
• A credit history check is a crucial aspect of employee screening in Vietnam, especially for job candidates applying for accounting roles or other positions that involve handling money.

Education history check

• An education history check refers to verifying a job applicant’s education history.
• This includes information related to enrollment history, dates of attendance, type of degrees obtained, and graduation date, among others.
• One significant benefit of running an education history check before offering employment is that it helps to ensure that the candidate has the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to fulfill the job position's requirements.

Social media check

• A social media check involves evaluating the publicly available information of job candidates on numerous social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
• The goal is to assess the candidate's personality and interactions with others online via posts and comments. It enables recruiters to understand whether the individual is the right fit for the company.

Requirements for Background Checks in Vietnam

Whenever conducting a background check in Vietnam, you need a written consent from the potential candidate. 

You can mention the background checks you will be conducting, purpose of the process and how you will obtain the information. 

Some of the mandatory documents that are deemed essential for conducting a background check in Vietnam include,

• Identification documents: Copy of passport, national identity card, or driver’s license
• Address verification: Details of permanent address and current address
• Offer letter of previous companies, relieving letter, experience letter, position, and dates of employment
• Copies of degree certificates and mark sheets.

Steps in Conducting Background Checks in Vietnam

Following the steps below is of utmost importance for you as an employer to ensure a legal and effective background check in Vietnam.

• Disclosure to the candidate and obtaining consent

Before starting the process, you must obtain explicit written consent from the candidate, citing the purpose and scope of the check. 

Vietnamese labor laws are strict, and you must always ensure that you comply with them to avoid legal obstacles. 

• Commence the investigation

Following this, you can start with various background checks, evaluating the ones that seem most necessary for the job role in question. 

For example, if the position requires individuals to handle heavy machinery or things related to this, then a medical screening is crucial.

• Review the result

At the end of the process, all the results derived from the process are compiled into a proper report. 

This will help you identify any discrepancies in the alignment of the information provided and the outcome generated through the investigation. 

Furthermore, it will also ensure that you are hiring only trustworthy and eligible candidates for your organization.

Are Employee Background Checks Legal in Vietnam?

Yes, conducting employee screenings in Vietnam is legal as long as it follows the country’s government's statutory guidelines. 

In 2021, the Government of Vietnam released a draft decree that significantly changed the way employers process their employees’ data. 

One of its key aspects was the differentiation between ‘basic personal data' and ‘sensitive personal data.’ 

Additionally, it laid down specific requirements for companies when dealing with the latter type.

For example, a health check report is deemed sensitive personal data under Vietnamese laws. 

Therefore, as an employer, before you request a medical screening of job candidates, you need to gain special permission from the Personal Data Protection Committee, which is primarily governed by the Ministry of Public Security. 

By establishing compliance with these rules and regulations, you will guarantee a successful verification process and mitigate the risks of legal challenges.

Planning to Hire in Vietnam? Skuad Can Help

With expertise in over 160 countries, Skuad’s Employer of Record (EOR) provides a seamless international hiring process for numerous organizations worldwide. 

It is a unified platform that manages all crucial global hiring aspects, from HR and administrative tasks to payroll.

For compliant background checks, partner with Skuad EOR.

Book a demo today and unlock seamless global expansion!

FAQs

Q1: Is there an age limit for working in Vietnam?

Ans: Under the Vietnamese Labor Code 2019, foreign nationals who wish to work in the country must be at least 18 years of age and have full civil act capacity.

Q2: Are background checks illegal in Vietnam?

Ans: No, background checks are not illegal in Vietnam as long as employers obtain written consent from individuals and ensure compliance with the data privacy laws and regulations.

Q3: What happens during employment screening in Vietnam?

Ans: Employment screening in Vietnam consists of a detailed process wherein employers contact credible and relevant sources to verify the accuracy of information provided by job applicants. This information mainly includes information related to work experience, educational credentials, and sometimes even criminal records. 

Q4: What questions are asked in an employment background check in Vietnam?

Ans: During an employment background check in Vietnam, some of the most commonly asked questions relate to the full name, gender, and address of job applicants, their work experience, health condition, vocational skills, and educational background, among other things.