Over the years, Sri Lanka has developed itself into a famous hub for international business expansion.
One of the many factors that play a major role in this trend is Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka.
It is a vibrant metropolis with some of the country's most famous political and financial institutions.
In addition to this, it also boasts some robust infrastructure and efficient means of transport.
As a result, more and more enterprises are constantly seeking efficient ways to establish their presence in this foreign land. However, international hiring is easier said than done.
Apart from sourcing suitable candidates, you must also deal with other crucial aspects of employment. One of them includes running a background check in Sri Lanka.
Skuad performs background checks in Sri Lanka if you partner with us for EOR.
That said, here is a detailed guide explaining the various complexities of the employee screening process in this country.
What is an Employee Background Check?
An employee background check is a standard step for a compliant hiring process. It helps employers verify information provided by job applicants and assess their suitability for a role.
Employee screening involves checking details like work history, education, any criminal record (if relevant), credit history (where applicable), and references.
The goal is to confirm the accuracy of the candidate's information, evaluate their ability to perform the job, and minimize risks for the employer.
These checks are essential for ensuring workplace integrity, safety, and compliance with laws.
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Talk to an expertWhat are the Benefits of Background Checks in Sri Lanka?
Employee screening in Sri Lanka can bring various benefits to the organization, including:
- Ensure the accuracy of employment qualifications
A recent survey revealed that as many as 70% of candidates lie on their resumes. This may be related to their tenure in an organization or expertise in skills they hardly use.
In this aspect, an employee background check can prove to be extremely useful, as it will enable you to verify the accuracy of the information provided by job applicants in their CVs.
- Maintain your brand’s integrity
Employees are the face of your organization. This means that any hiring decision you make is going to have a tremendous influence on the integrity and reputation of your brand.
Therefore, selecting candidates whose values align with your organization is always important.
An employee screening can help you with this, as you can potentially avoid the risk of problematic behavior in the workplace by conducting an extensive criminal background check.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
Lastly, a background check in Sri Lanka helps to ensure compliance with all the local labor laws and regulations.
It is a proactive approach that guarantees the candidates have the legal right to work in the country where the company operates.
This, in turn, helps avoid any severe legal penalties.
What are the Types of Background Checks in Sri Lanka?
An employee background check in Sri Lanka has various types. Below are a few examples.
Criminal record check
- The police clearance certificate can be obtained through the Sri Lankan Police's e-services portal.
- The application fee is currently set at 4000 Sri Lankan rupees.
- Once you have received the application, you can start filling in all the details related to name, residential address, and duration of address, among others.
- It is crucial to ensure that you enter only accurate and verified information into the application.
- It usually takes 14 working days for the clearance certificate to be issued.
Employment history check
- An employment history check verifies the accuracy of the applicant’s previous employment experience.
- It includes confirmation of the start and end dates, department, job title and responsibilities, and other relevant information.
Medical screening
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Sri Lanka typically performs pre-employment medical screening.
- It includes various assessments, such as blood analysis, fitness-to-work assessment, vision testing, audiometric examination, and lung function testing.
- After conducting the medical assessments, individualized reports are provided to workers based on their health results.
- Additionally, a special report is provided to the company.
Credit history check
- The Credit Information Bureau (CRIB) is the primary institution providing individuals with credit information.
- Employees can directly request the Credit Information Report online. It is referred to as the Consumer Online Self-Inquiry Credit Report.
- Some of the many documents required during this process include a national identity card, a valid passport, and an agreed-upon online service agreement.
Education history
- An education history check proves the educational degrees, certification, and training courses attended by the job applicant.
- For this purpose, you may directly contact the university/college using the contact details provided on their official websites.
Social media check
- In addition to the background checks mentioned above, you may conduct a social media check-in in Sri Lanka.
- It is done to understand the job applicant as a person, how they behave publicly, and whether or not they are the right fit for the organization.
- For this purpose, employers may assess publicly available information on popular social media sites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Requirements for Background Check in Sri Lanka
Let’s examine some of the standard documents usually required in an employee background check in Sri Lanka.
Common details
- Candidate’s full name
- Date of birth
- Most recent address
- A written consent from the candidate
The following documents
- Copies of identification documents, such as driving license or passport
- Copies of final year mark sheet or degree certificate
- Current company’s offer letter, salary slip, or experience letter.
- Contact details of references
Steps in Conducting Background Checks in Sri Lanka
Background checks are usually conducted when you, as an employer, are willing to make an offer. However, many companies are known for performing this task on several candidates to guide their employment decisions.
Regardless, there are a few crucial steps involved. Let’s take a look.
Step 1: Provide full disclosure to the candidate
Before commencing any type of background check in Sri Lanka, you must inform the candidate about it.
This includes providing details related to the scope of the employee screening. Additionally, you must obtain explicit consent from the individual.
Step 2: Conduct background check
Following this, start with your verification. If you are conducting a criminal record check, you can ask for the police clearance certificate from the Sri Lankan Police's e-services portal.
If it is a credit history check, you can contact the CRIB.
Step 3: Review the report
Upon completing the investigation, thoroughly analyze the information collected and look for any discrepancies with the information provided by the job applicant.
This will help you to make a well-informed hiring decision.
Are Employee Background Checks Legal in Sri Lanka?
Yes, employee background checks in Sri Lanka are legal. However, employers must fully understand and comply with the data privacy regulations, including
- Personal Data Protection Act: It protects personal data and ensures transparency in data processing during background checks.
- Employment Act: This act requires employers to perform background verifications and reference checks before offering employment contracts.
- Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka: The commission provides guidelines for verifying educational details, pre-employment information, reference checks, and criminal verifications.
- Central Information Bureau of Sri Lanka (CRIB): This organization maintains a credit information database, accessible only to lending institutions for credit checks.
Planning to Hire in Sri Lanka? Skuad Can Help
Regarding international hiring, Skuad has been the number-one choice for multiple enterprises worldwide.
It is a unified platform with robust capabilities, such as compliance, global mobility support, payroll in 100+ currencies, and more.
Your workforce should not be limited by boundaries. From administrative and HR operations to payroll management, you can leave all the heavy lifting to us to better focus on hiring the best global talent.
Skuad performs background checks in Sri Lanka when you partner with Skuad EOR.
Book a demo today and experience the power of seamless global hiring only with Skuad.
FAQs
Q1: Does Sri Lanka do background checks?
Ans: Yes, background checks are a standard part of the hiring process in Sri Lanka. That being said, it demands compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act, the primary data privacy legislation in this country.
Q2: What happens during employer screening in Sri Lanka?
Ans: During an employment screening in Sri Lanka, the employer carefully scrutinizes the authenticity of the information provided by the job applicant, including previous job roles and responsibilities, educational credentials, and more.