Recruiters required to advertise in Jobcentre Plus for four weeks

Recruiters will be required to advertise some jobs in Jobcentre Plus for four weeks following changes to the Resident Labour Market Test announced yesterday.

From 14 December anyone wanting to employ a foreign national from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) under Tier 2 of the points-based immigration system will have to advertise the vacancy in Jobcentre Plus for four weeks before they can take the non-EEA national on.

The new rules will replace the current requirement to advertise jobs for two weeks, or one week for jobs where the salary is £40,000 or more.

The change means that time-to-hire will be extended by two weeks for many jobs, as, assuming no-one from the EEA is suitable, non-EEA nationals can only be taken on after the four weeks have elapsed.

Commenting on the change, which was recommended by the Migratory Advisory Committee in August,  Phil Woolas, borders and immigration minister, says: “We’ve always said that we would run our immigration system for the benefit of the UK and that is why the Prime Minister announced that we will extend the amount of time employers must advertise jobs in Jobcentre Plus, before they can bring in a worker from outside Europe.

“This change will give UK workers an even better chance and more time to apply for skilled vacancies that might otherwise go to migrant workers. It will ensure that businesses can recruit the skilled foreign workers that the economy needs, but not at the expense of British workers, nor as a cheaper alternative to investing in the skills of the existing workforce.”

Steve Tubbings, managing director of actuarial and insurance recruiter The Emerald Group, told Recruiter the change was bad news. “It’s only going to delay the recruitment process. It will mean that certain businesses, where they have skillset shortages, will potentially miss out.”

George Koureas, associate director and head of immigration at law firm Lewis Silkin, told Recruiter that the new rules are “part of the government’s “tough approach” to promote employers hiring European workers.

“If a recruiter has somebody in mind, they need to justify that the individual is the right person for the job,” says Koureas.

“What this change means is that the lead time between finding someone and employing them is going to be extended by a full two weeks.”

The new test will not apply to occupations on the MAC’s skill shortage list such as some nurses, doctors and engineers.

It is not yet clear whether it will apply to senior positions such as company directors earning more than £130,000 who are currently exempt from the RLMT. 

In addition to Jobcentre Plus, recruiters will also be allowed to advertise vacancies in other media such as trade journals.

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