Someone asked me the other day about enforcing contracts with workers.
Here’s my answer.
First, I am not an attorney so I can give you no legal advice on how to write a contract or what is legal. I don’t have any understanding at all. You should not listen to anything I say on this subject.
I’m just going to tell you what we’ve done.
In my opinion, you can’t do this. You can’t write a contract and enforce it.
Actually…you could…
It’s just not worth it.
THIS IS JUST MY OPINION!
I mean, you can write a contract. I’m sure it will be binding in the Philippines. The Philippines is a very law abiding country, generally. Their laws are strict. But if someone were to do something to you, what would you do? Would you fly there and take them to court?
There are so few things that would be worth this amount of trouble that it’s just not worth it.
You can have a contract. Most Filipinos want to sign a contract. So that part about it is completely reasonable. They expect it because they want the formality.
But typically, we don’t do it because I know I can’t enforce it. It’s not something I would ever go there to enforce.
I’ve never seen someone else enforce it either.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do a contract.
I think contracts are a good idea. They put expectations in place. They give you an agreement to look back on. They provide some security to the person that you hired that you’re serious about hiring them and providing work for them.
Filipinos like contracts.
If it does ever come to having to enforce something in court, I would probably hire a Filipino lawyer…which would not be hard on Onlinejobs.ph.
You could also hire someone to help you with a contract.
John