The decision by the Home Office to delay in-person Right to Work checks has been welcomed by industry representatives.
“APSCo and its members are pleased that the Home Office has taken on board the feedback shared by ourselves and other representatives of UK employers and have delayed the return to in-person RTW requirements,” said Tania Bowers, Legal Counsel and Head of Public Policy at APSCo commented. “While we look forward to seeing the results of its longer-term review, we hope that the success of the digital processes over the last 18 months leads to a more appropriate and modern method of managing Right to Work checks.
Bowers notes that research from the Better Hiring Institute – of which the Chair of the APSCo Compliance+ Committee, Keith Rosser, is a director – shows that at least 40,000 workers were successfully hired during the pandemic via temporary adjusted checks. “This highlights that the digital Right to Work checks have been working,” she says, “And with the UK facing a skills shortage at a time when the Office for National Statistics has reported a record number of job vacancies, ensuring employment regulation is fit for purpose in the modern world of work and doesn’t put UK employers on the back foot, is crucial.
“APSCo will continue to lobby for appropriate changes to RTW checks while the Home Office is considering more permanent amendments,” Bowers adds.
Meanwhile, in response to the announcement, chief executive of the REC Neil Carberry said: “This is great news for recruiters and hiring businesses all over the country. Digital right to work checks have been a resounding success during the pandemic, allowing companies to hire quickly and safely as well as improving compliance. It makes complete sense to extend their use, especially considering the unprecedented labour shortages we are experiencing now. This move comes on the back of extensive campaigning from the REC with our last letter to the Home Office yesterday – linking the need for a delay to helping with worker shortages. We look forward to working with them further on a more permanent digital solution.”
