Employers take note:
new jobs website
launches in May

3 May 2018

Under current policy, companies who want to employ migrant workers under the Tier 2 General scheme must first complete a Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT).

This demonstrates that the vacancy being filled is genuine and cannot be filled locally and confirms that the position is skilled. To do this, employers must advertise the position they wish to fill in two places, including on the Universal Jobmatch (UJM), a website where it is free to list vacancies.

But from May 14 this year, UJM is closing and will be replaced by a successor, Find A Job. We advise employers who wish to hire migrant workers under Tier 2 to take note of this change.

If you have advertised on UJM within the last six months, you should retain evidence of this advert in case it is required to support a subsequent Tier 2 application to hire a migrant worker into the role. If you don’t, you won’t be able to evidence your RMLT and will have no option but to advertise again.

A spokesperson for the customer service team at Visa & Citizenship said: ‘We plan to update the rules and guidance in the next scheduled update but in the meantime, references to UJM should be interpreted as including its successor Find A Job.

When does this change happen?

The new site will be available to employers from 14 May. No new jobs will be able to be posted on UJM after 17 May. The old site will close on 18 June and in the meantime the resident workforce will still be able to view adverts placed on it for 28 days.

After 18 June, the ads on the old site will disappear and won’t be migrated to the new platform.

How does this affect my sponsor duties in relation to the RLMT?

Aside from the website name change, nothing else is different. Your business must continue to retain evidence that you have advertised a job online.

You must keep a screenshot from the relevant government website on the day the vacancy was first advertised, or if the date the vacancy was first advertised is clearly visible, a screenshot can be taken at any point during the period the vacancy is advertised.

The screenshot must clearly show all of the following:
• the logo of the relevant government website hosting the job advertisement
• the contents of the advert
• the vacancy reference number for UJM vacancies – this is the ‘Job ID number’
• the date
• the URL for UJM vacancies as this also contains the Job ID number
• a closing date for applications.

Smith Stone Walters is here to assist with all aspects of applying for a sponsor licence and in complying with Tier 2 services. If you need our expertise, please contact our team today.

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