Should I surrender my passport to my employer in the Philippines?

Hi there. While I'm not sure about specific laws in the Philippines, generally the consensus is that your passport is a personal document you keep in your possession. Technically, it actually belongs to the government that issued it. When employers ask for your passport for "HR purposes" it's commonly an excuse to get a worker to give them the document. Have you already got your work permit?

Essentially, doing so gives the employer power over your movement. For instance, should you want to leave the Philippines, you would need to get your passport back. If your employer refuses, you are stuck. Sometimes this is what happens in abusive workplaces, tipping the balance of power in favour of the employer and making the employee completely dependent on them. So to me this is quite a big red flag. Did they interview you before giving you the job? Have you cross-checked for example contact details they gave you with details on their website? Have they asked you for money? These small things can help determine the authenticity of the job. If you can find reviews from previous employees that would also be useful. Maybe on Glassdoor or a similar website.

M