How to check a yaya's background and references safely

Documents you can ask for

Before the contract is signed, RA 10361 (Section 12) allows the employer to require:

• A medical certificate or health certificate from a local government health officer
• Barangay and police clearance
• An NBI clearance
• A birth certificate, or another document showing age, such as a voter's ID, baptismal record or passport

The prospective employer (or the agency) pays for these. Age matters: it is unlawful to employ anyone under 15 as a kasambahay, and workers aged 15 to 17 have extra protections (Section 16).

How to check each one

• NBI clearance. Applied for online through the official NBI Clearance website, which also has an Online Verification tool for checking a clearance's authenticity and validity. Ask to see the original, check that the name and photo match the person in front of you, and use the site's verification. First-time jobseekers can get it free under RA 11261.
• Police clearance. Issued through the National Police Clearance System. Check the same details.
• Barangay clearance. From the barangay where the candidate lives. It also tells you where they live now.
• Government ID. Compare the face, name and birth date with the clearances.

If anything looks wrong, ask for a fresh copy or contact the office that issued it.

How to call references

Ask the candidate for at least two past employers, with names and phone numbers, and tell them you will call. Get the candidate's OK before you call anyone or check any document.

Questions to ask a past employer:

• When did they work for you, and what were their duties?
• Who did they look after, and how old were the children or family members?
• Were they on time, honest with money, and calm in an emergency?
• Why did the job end?
• Would you hire them again?

Listen for specifics. A reference who can't recall dates or duties is a warning sign: ask for another one.

Handle the candidate's documents with care

Clearances and IDs carry what the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173) calls sensitive personal information: details of any offense or court proceeding, health records, and numbers issued by government agencies (Section 3(l)). The Act's duties are written for "personal information controllers", a term that excludes an individual handling information for personal, family or household affairs (Section 3(h)), so a household hiring for itself may fall outside it. Its principles (Section 11) are still a good standard to follow:

• Ask first. Get the candidate's consent and say what you will check and why.
• Use it only for hiring. Don't use the documents for anything else.
• Collect only what you need. The documents listed in RA 10361 Section 12 are enough.
• Keep copies safe. Store them where others can't see them, and never post or forward them.
• Don't keep them longer than needed. Return or destroy copies from candidates you did not hire.

What Pinoyaya's ID-Verified badge is, and what it isn't

What it is: helpers can choose to verify their identity with a valid Philippine government ID and a live selfie matched to that ID, through a specialist identity-verification provider. Helpers who pass show the green ID-Verified badge. Families see the badge, not the ID itself.

What it isn't:

• It is not a criminal background check. Pinoyaya does not run criminal background checks, so ask for the NBI clearance yourself.
• It is not a reference check, and it doesn't confirm past jobs.
• It does not confirm skills, training or certificates. Anything a helper writes in their profile is their own claim: ask to see the document.
• Not every helper has it. Verification is optional, so some helpers on Pinoyaya are not verified.

Pinoyaya also has no ratings or reviews, so your own checks matter. More detail: what “identity verified” actually means.

A safe order for your checks

1. Chat in the app first. Contact details stay hidden, and you message in the app.
2. Meet in a public place before you share your home address.
3. Check the ID, clearances and references before you sign anything.
4. Sign a written contract, using our free template.
5. Start with a paid trial period, with you or a trusted relative at home.

For interview questions, see 10 questions to ask before hiring a yaya.

Common questions

How do I check a yaya's background in the Philippines?

Ask to see original NBI, police and barangay clearances, compare them with the yaya's government ID, and call at least two past employers. RA 10361 (Section 12) lets employers require these documents before signing the contract.

How can I check if an NBI clearance is real?

The official NBI Clearance website (clearance.nbi.gov.ph) has an Online Verification tool for checking a clearance's authenticity and validity. Also look at the original and make sure the name and photo match the candidate.

Who pays for a yaya's NBI clearance?

The employer. RA 10361 (Section 12) says the cost of the pre-employment documents, including the NBI clearance, is borne by the prospective employer or the agency.

Does Pinoyaya do background checks on helpers?

No. Pinoyaya does not run criminal background checks. Helpers can choose to verify their identity with a government ID and a live selfie to earn the ID-Verified badge. Ask for an NBI clearance yourself.

What does the ID-Verified badge mean?

It means the helper's government ID was matched to a live selfie, confirming they are who they say they are. It does not check criminal records, past jobs or skills, and not every helper has it.

What should I ask a yaya's previous employer?

Ask when they worked there, what their duties were, how they handled money and emergencies, why the job ended, and whether the employer would hire them again.

Can I hire a yaya who is under 18?

Not anyone under 15: RA 10361 (Section 16) makes it unlawful to employ anyone below 15 as a kasambahay. Workers aged 15 to 17 can be employed but have extra protections under the law.

Sources

Checked on 1 Nov 2026. Laws and wage orders change: confirm current figures with the official source before you rely on them.

• Republic Act No. 10361 (Batas Kasambahay / Domestic Workers Act), full text: LawPhil
• NBI Clearance online (official site): online application, and Online Verification of a clearance's authenticity and validity
• National Police Clearance System
• Republic Act No. 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012): LawPhil
• Republic Act No. 11261 (First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act): LawPhil
• GMA News (23 May 2024): DOLE Hotline 1349 is a free 24/7 call center for labour concerns

This guide is for general information only. It is not legal advice. For your specific situation, ask DOLE (hotline 1349) or a Philippine labour lawyer.