Recruiters play an essential role in the hiring process by screening job applicants and selecting the best candidates for a job. This involves conducting background checks, including verifying an applicant’s education, employment history, and criminal record. Criminal record checks are particularly important because they help recruiters ensure that the applicants they recommend for a job are trustworthy, honest, and safe to work with.
Why is a background check important in recruitment?
The primary reason for conducting background checks is to help companies make informed hiring decisions. Employers want to know that they are contracting reliable people who won’t pose a risk to their business, employees, or customers. A criminal record check is an essential part of a background check because it can reveal information about an applicant’s criminal history linked to untrustworthy behaviour, such as past convictions for theft, fraud, or violent crimes.
Background checks can also help companies avoid potential legal issues. If an employee with a criminal record may harm someone at work or commits a crime on the job, the employer may be held liable for negligence if they didn’t take reasonable steps to investigate the employee’s background before hiring them.
Remember that South African law requires employers to obtain written consent from job applicants before conducting a criminal record check.
What background checks do employers do in South Africa?
In South Africa, employers are required to conduct background checks on job applicants for particular job roles in specific industries. Examples in this regard include banking, finance, and security. However, even if a background check is not legally required, many employers choose to conduct them as a matter of best practice.
A typical background check in South Africa may include verifying an applicant’s identity, employment history, education, and criminal record. One way to do a criminal record check is by requesting a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), which is issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
How to do a criminal record check in South Africa
To obtain a PCC, applicants must fill out an application form, submit fingerprints, and pay a fee. The PCC will show any criminal convictions or pending cases against the applicant. The process can take several weeks or even months, depending on the workload and processing capacity of SAPS.
Aside from the PCC process being slow, the certificate may not provide a complete picture of an applicant’s criminal history. Moreover, it’s usually only valid for a period of six months from the date it is issued. Employers don’t have access to an auto-updated report should the candidate be convicted of a crime while in their employment.
To overcome these limitations, many recruiters in South Africa are turning to HURU’s services for criminal checks that are fast, accurate, and reliable.
The simplest way for recruiters to verify criminal records and candidates’ identities.
HURU offers a comprehensive suite of services for recruiters to verify candidates’ criminal records. Our criminal check process is a trusted and accurate way to ensure that the people you recommend for a job aren’t hiding a dubious past. In addition, HURU’s identity verification services use advanced biometric technology to match an applicant’s fingerprints and ID documentation, providing a complete and accurate identity verification solution.
HURU’s services offer numerous benefits for recruiters. By using HURU, recruiters can reduce their workload, save time, and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. In addition, HURU’s services can help recruiters build a shortlist of the best possible candidates, improving the chances of finding the right person for the job role.
By choosing HURU, recruiters can streamline their recruitment process, improve their clients’ hiring decisions, and ultimately, build a more successful business. Don’t risk hiring candidates with an undisclosed criminal record or false identity. Call on HURU to ensure the safety and integrity of the workplace.