Labor recruitment and provision of personnel, local
Labor recruitment and provision of personnel, local.
Excludes
- Activities of personal theatrical or artistic agents or agencies (class 7810 exclusion) 7490
Foreign ownership
Foreign equity in this activity is capped at 25% under the Negative List. A local corporation with structured local control is the usual route to the local market.
Legal basis: FINL A.12 · Article 27 of PD No. 442
Recommended route
Local corporation, structured control
Foreign equity up to 25%, with a structured local-control arrangement
Joint venture
A Filipino partner holds the balance above the 25% ceiling
Entity types
Which structure fits depends on your goal. Rows that suit this activity are highlighted. Open a row for the full detail.
| Structure | 100% foreign | Sell locally | No PH partner | No capital floor | No entity | Min. capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic corporation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | USD 200k |
| One Person Corporation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | USD 200k |
| Branch office | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | USD 200k |
| Representative officeFits | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | USD 30k |
| Local corporation, minority foreignFits | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | Lower / none |
| Employer of RecordFits | – | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | None |
| Product holdingFits | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | None |
Registration path
- 1
SEC
Incorporate the entity
- 2
BIR
Tax registration and books
- 3
LGU
Barangay clearance and Mayor’s permit
- 4
Regulator
Sector license, if the activity needs one
Emerhub files each step with the government; you provide the documents and information.
Minimum paid-up capital
| Situation | USD | PHP |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic-market enterprise (>40% foreign)Paid-up capital for foreign equity above 40% serving the local market. Legal basis: FIA (RA 7042 as amended). | $200,000 | ≈ ₱11.4M |
| Reduced thresholdAt least 50 direct employees, or advanced technology. Legal basis: FIA (RA 7042 as amended). | $100,000 | ≈ ₱5.7M |
| Export enterpriseExports at least 60% of output. Legal basis: Corporation Code (RA 11232). | ≈ $88 | ₱5,000 |
| Retail trade enterpriseMinimum paid-up capital for foreign retail. Legal basis: RA 11595. | ≈ $439k | ₱25,000,000 |
Bold is the figure the law sets; the other column is an approximate conversion at ₱57 to USD 1.
Licenses & product holding
Alongside SEC incorporation, this activity needs the following regulatory license or product registration before it can legally operate in the Philippines.
- Sector license
DOLE License - Local Recruitment & Placement Agency (PRPA)
Local labor recruitment and placement agencies must hold a Private Recruitment and Placement Agency (PRPA) license from the Department of Labor and Employment under the Labor Code (Arts. 25-39) and DOLE Department Order No. 141-14.