The Home Office has confirmed that digital right to work checks will continue until the beginning of April 2022. At the start of the pandemic, the UK government introduced digital proof of Right to Work checks to help businesses continue to recruit and grow their business.
The switch to virtual checks has meant that job seekers have been able to send a scanned copy of their documentation to their potential employer, with a confirmation call taking place over a video calling platform such as Teams, FaceTime or Zoom.
Employers should review internal processes to ensure that they are in a position to resume checks at the relevant time and ensure that they review files to ensure compliant adjusted checks are completed between March 30, 2020 and April 5, 2022.
The Government has been undertaking a review of specialist technology which could support the permanent implementation of digital Right to Work checks.
Expressing that this would allow UK and Irish citizens to partake in these checks online, the Home Office eventually hopes to roll out digital checks which also offer enhanced security. Employers may be able to defend allegations of illegal working if they can show they conducted document checks in line with the full prescribed manner or the COVID-adjusted rules during the period of the scheme’s validity.
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