| In the complex world of employee background | | | | diligence work. In the United Arab Emirates, data |
| screening, no two countries are alike. In the United | | | | protection laws permit investigators to process |
| States, investigators have a web of databases at | | | | sensitive personal information such as criminal |
| their disposal and a vast network of local | | | | history data. DIFC licensed entities must maintain |
| resources that provide a wealth of information at | | | | strict adherence to the region's Data Protection |
| the mere click of a mouse. It's a different world in | | | | Law of 2007 in order to fulfill ongoing DIFC |
| the Middle East. Technology is limited in many | | | | licensed status. As in the United States, the |
| parts of the region. Privacy legislation varies from | | | | procurement of personal data in this region - and |
| country to country and from jurisdiction to | | | | any subsequent transfer of data outside of the |
| jurisdiction. Cultural differences impact the flow of | | | | DIFC - may only be attained with the written |
| information, and language barriers contribute to | | | | consent of the individual being investigated. In |
| inaccurate reporting. Instead of the typically | | | | compliance with the European Union Data |
| database-driven investigations such as those that | | | | Protection Directive, reputable background |
| are conducted in the United States, background | | | | screening firms typically also adopt a strict stance |
| investigation professionals in the Middle East must | | | | on corporate self-monitoring by appointing a Data |
| conduct large parts of their investigations literally | | | | Protection Officer (DPO) whose primary |
| on foot, often traveling to remote regions to | | | | responsibility is to conduct independent audits of |
| scour records and interview sources. Simply put, if | | | | our various information processing operations that |
| you're looking for accurate, reliable information in | | | | handle customer and employee data. The DPO |
| the Middle East you need to turn to qualified and | | | | ensures that personal data is handled in |
| experienced professional sources that are familiar | | | | accordance with all relevant data protection |
| with the countries, cultures, terrain, languages, | | | | provisions covering online and offline data |
| resources and - most of all - the laws that | | | | procurement while complying with local and |
| govern personal privacy. In this part of the world | | | | regional regulations pertaining to individual privacy |
| your contacts and resources are your greatest | | | | standards. |
| asset. | | | | How to Locate and Partner with Reputable |
| Discovering Hard-to-Find Facts in Hard-to-Reach | | | | Screening Firms in the Middle East |
| Locations | | | | So how does one go about securing a reputable |
| The biggest challenge to conducting background | | | | background screening source abroad? The |
| investigations in the Middle East is collecting reliable | | | | following checklist may be helpful. |
| information in the most efficient manner. This | | | | 1. To begin, it is highly recommended that you |
| requires a well-trained and diverse group of | | | | research the listing of expatriate security firms |
| professional investigators who are multilingual and | | | | provided by the National Association of |
| multi-cultural, are familiar with those geographic | | | | Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS). The |
| regions and can easily traverse the obstacles that | | | | list can be found at NAPBS website |
| often impede international investigations. Those | | | | 2. Ask your provider how they comply with local |
| obstacles include: | | | | and regional laws governing individual privacy |
| Working with local customs offices | | | | protection and the methods they utilize in |
| Complying with data protection laws and | | | | protecting information. |
| mandates; | | | | 3. Make sure your service provider's physical |
| Knowledge level of local investigative | | | | address is in the region they're conducting |
| researchers; | | | | investigations. If not, they could be simply |
| Lack of centralized information resources and | | | | outsourcing their cases to a third party. |
| databases; and | | | | 4. Ask about the manner in which your service |
| The proliferation of multicultural environments | | | | provider conducts investigations. Stay away from |
| that are particularly influenced by locals who | | | | firms that investigate exclusively through media |
| vastly differ in their approaches to investigative | | | | searches. |
| screening and public record searches, particularly | | | | 5. Don't settle for firms that say they specialize in |
| with information collected via database sources. | | | | providing checks of the International Terrorist |
| To address these obstacles, successful | | | | Watch List and the OFAC watch list. Those lists |
| background investigators in this part of the world | | | | are available online to anyone at no cost. |
| are often requires working deep in the field, | | | | 6. Stay away from firms that won't supply you |
| traveling to remote destinations to conduct | | | | with the source of the records they obtain. Also, |
| interviews, develop resources and enlist local | | | | be sure to ask how old the information collected |
| assistance to verify information. | | | | is. |
| Examples of Privacy Laws in the Middle East | | | | 7. The truly reputable firms will combine in-depth |
| While reputable screening firms in the United | | | | field investigations with routine public records |
| States comply closely with the Fair Credit | | | | searches. Make sure your provider is doing both. |
| Reporting Act to conduct domestic background | | | | 8. Service delivery is critical in foreign |
| investigations, foreign investigations are much | | | | investigations. Ask about average turnaround |
| more complex. Middle East countries have no | | | | times and get commitments for delivery in |
| prohibitive legislation that governs the employment | | | | advance of the investigation. |
| screening process. At the same time there is no | | | | 9. Find out what other U.S. companies use the |
| cooperative legislation and regulation to support | | | | service provider. Ask for references. |
| background screening services for employee due | | | | As the world economy shrinks and the pool of |
| diligence. However industry professionals must | | | | foreign job applicants expands, a partnership with |
| adhere to strict data protection requirements to | | | | a reputable international background screening |
| process consensually based personal information. | | | | service provider to conduct investigations abroad |
| For instance in Dubai, local police departments | | | | is essential for maintaining a safe hiring program |
| provide "Good Conduct Certificates" for | | | | for your clients. To ensure you're using the best |
| employees for immigration purposes, while the | | | | providers available, a little investigating of your |
| Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) awards | | | | own will result in big benefits down the road. |
| a "Police Clearance" certificate for employee due | | | | |