Hiring Web Developers in the Philippines: A Guide for Australian SMEs

Nearly 70% of tech professions in Australia face a skills shortage. This creates an extremely competitive market for local businesses looking to hire IT personnel. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are at a particular disadvantage since it’s difficult for them to compete with the salaries offered by large corporations. 

Is your SME finding it hard to hire IT talent? If so, outsourcing beyond Australia’s borders might be the perfect solution. The Philippines is a prime outsourcing destination, popular for various skill sets, including technology professionals. In this article, we’ll guide Australian SMEs through the whys and hows of hiring web developers from the Philippines. Read on to learn more.

Why Hire Web Developers from the Philippines?

There are several reasons why the Philippines is an ideal destination for IT talent outsourcing. The country has been a primary player in the outsourcing market for over three decades. 

Highly Skilled Talent 

The Philippines is currently home to 1.57 million IT professionals, a number that’s expected to grow in the coming years. These individuals are highly educated and skilled, leveraging experience from local and global companies. 

Such an extensive range of IT workers means you can tap into specialised skills in web development, web design, and more. Meanwhile, global expertise prepares Philippine web developers for work on cross-cultural and cross-border teams. 

Cost-Effective Solutions 

Wages in the Philippines are significantly lower than in Australia. The average base salary for a web designer in Australia is AU $71,779. For web design in the Philippines, the price can be as much as seven times lower. See our pricing guide to learn how much you could save.

High English Proficiency 

The Philippines ranks #20 on the global English Language Proficiency Index. However, among professional workers, English proficiency is even higher, making it easy for Australian businesses to communicate with local staff. Plus, many Philippine employees speak additional languages like Spanish, which can be a value-add for companies working on a global scale. 

Understanding the Prices for Web Development in the Philippines

There are different ways to outsource web development to the Philippines. You have a few options when it comes to pricing and engagement models. 

Hourly Payments

For smaller or occasional projects, you can opt to outsource web design to the Philippines on a per-hour basis. The hourly rate will vary depending on the skills and experience you require from the developer. However, as discussed above, you can expect to pay exponentially lower wages than in Australia. 

Project Contracts

Another option is to outsource a specific project. For example, if you need to build a website, you can outsource this as a one-off project with a fixed cost. Again, the actual web design price will vary with the project’s complexity. 

Full-Time Staff

If your SME needs ongoing web development support, consider hiring a full-time Philippine web designer. This will be cheaper than hourly or project-based contracts in the long run. It will also allow for knowledge continuity. 

However, you’ll need to consider the legalities of full-time contracts, such as taxes, social security, bonuses, and termination procedures. 

Web Development Team 

Consider hiring an entire web development team from the Philippines for large-scope projects that require fast delivery. This outsourcing model is ideal for businesses that want to quickly go to market with a time-sensitive product. It can also be a great way to scale your business capacity up and down as needed. 

How to Find and Hire the Best Web Developers in the Philippines

There are several ways to find the best Philippine web designers. You can tap into local platforms like OnlineJobs.ph and JobStreet, where you’ll find thousands of professional profiles. Another option is using global platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or LinkedIn. 

Note that these will require your company to manage the entire hiring and engagement process on your own. An easy alternative is to work with an outsourcing provider that will manage all of the legal and HR details for you. At the same time, you focus directly on business processes and objectives. 

When assessing the candidate’s profile, look for developers with strong portfolios showcasing diverse projects and positive client feedback. This will be the biggest indicator of whether their work aligns with your business objectives. 

Once you’ve selected your top candidates, conduct thorough interviews to evaluate communication, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. For hourly and project-based contracts, you can have a trial before making a final decision. For full-time hires, make sure to include a probation period in the contract. 

Successful Collaboration with Philippine Web Developers

Like with any remote team, working with your web design team in the Philippines will require some adjustments for success. Make sure to establish clear expectations and lines of communication from the very start. 

For this, employ popular tools like Slack, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams. These will help your team remain aligned and follow up on any questions or concerns. Check in with your Philippine staff regularly to track progress and keep the project on track. 

It is also important to respect cultural differences and consider the time zones. While the Philippines is in a similar time zone to Australia, be clear about the availability of your web developers. Plus, stay informed on local holidays and celebrations to create a positive work environment. 

Wrapping Up

The Philippines is an ideal outsourcing destination for Australian SMEs looking to onboard skilled web designers. Businesses can expect professional talent and smooth collaboration while saving costs. 

Book a free consultation to explore how hiring web designers in the Philippines can benefit your business today.

FAQs

1. What challenges might Australian SMEs face when hiring web designers from the Philippines?

While Australia and the Philippines share a similar time zone, some scheduling challenges may still arise. These are easy to fix with a wealth of remote coordination tools like Calendly and Trello. 

Communication may be another challenge. For example, the Philippines tends to be a more high-context culture than Australia. This means that the communication style is less direct. As such, it’s important to pay attention to cultural nuances and take the time to create a positive communication cycle with your team in the Philippines. 

Overall, clear lines of communication and the use of effective remote work tools will help mitigate these types of challenges. 

2. Are there specific legal considerations for Australian businesses employing web developers from the Philippines?

Australian businesses need to consider the legal repercussions in Australia and the Philippines when engaging overseas freelancers or employees. It’s important to adhere to tax and labour law obligations in both countries. This includes tax withholdings, contracts, probation periods, termination procedures, and so on. 

In addition, you’ll need to think about intellectual property rights and data protection regulations in Australia and globally. This will protect your business, your global hires, and your clients. 

3. How do Australian SMEs invoice and pay Philippine staff? 

There are different ways for Australian businesses to pay Philippine staff. Common payment platforms include PayPal, Payonner, and Wise. Direct bank transfers are another option. 

While these are viable payment methods, consider the currency conversion and transaction fees for these cross-border services. Sometimes, these can add up and increase your costs or reduce your staff’s earnings. 

With RemoteHirely, it’s easy to pay your staff in the Philippines and rid yourself of the headaches attached. As an Australian entity, we handle all payments made to staff, include equipment costs and any agreed bonuses. Book a free consultation and never worry about bank transfers to offshore staff again!


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