The Home Office have announced that from 6 April 2022 it is moving to permanent Digital Identity Right to Work checks.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, the Home Office moved to digital Right to Work checks on 30 March 2022, allowing checks to be carried out over video calls. Job applicants and existing workers were also able to send scanned documents or a photo of documents using email or a mobile app, rather than having to send original documents. The Digital Identity Right to Work Checks have been extended multiple times since March 2020, and was originally scheduled to end in April 2022 when employers were set to revert back to face-to-face and physical document checks.
However, due to the success of the ability to conduct right to work checks remotely during the pandemic, the Home Office initiated a review of their availability to use specialist tech to support a system of digital checks in the future.
Launch of Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT)
As a result of the Home Office review, the Home Office will now enable employers to use certified Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT) service providers to carry out digital identity checks on their behalf for many who are not in scope to use the Home Office online services, including British and Irish citizens.
This development will align with DBS’ proposal to enable digital identity checking within their pre-employment process, through the introduction of its Identity Trust Scheme.
Enabling the use of IDVT for right to work, right to rent and DBS checks, the move hopes to “support long-term post pandemic working practices, accelerate the recruitment and onboarding process, improve employee mobility and enhance the security and integrity of the checks”, according to the government announcement yesterday.
How will this affect the employment sector?
The new Digital Identity Right to Work Checks is great news for the employment sector.
Removing the need for in-person verification removes the geographical barriers that the traditional process presented to recruiters, employers and applicants. Businesses are now able to recruit from much larger talent pools, which is very important for roles that are hard to fill and in times of skills shortages.
APSCo held a crucial role in these changes by lobbying the government for change. APSCo – The Association of Professional Staffing Companies, is a membership body dedicated to representing excellence in the professional recruitment industry and they released the following statement;
“This is welcome news for the recruitment sector and is an example of another lobbying win for APSCo. Having fed into the review we’re pleased that the Home Office has taken the decision to move to a permanent Digital Identity RTW solution. The ability to digitally manage these checks during the pandemic proved successful and we’re pleased to see that the progress made during this time hasn’t been lost. ”
People2.0
With businesses now finding it easier to remove geographical boarders and recruit from abroad, People2.0 can be a great partner for you or your business.
People2.0 is the leading provider of contingent workforce engagement solutions globally, operating in 40+ countries. If you are a contractor working remotely, or a business placing people abroad in a country where you don’t have an entity, People2.0 are able to use our local companies, across the 40 countries that we operate, as the employer of record, and manage the tax and social security on a monthly basis within the country where the work is being done.
If you would like further information about how we could assist you and your company regarding working with contractors remotely, then please contact a member of our sales team on +44 (0)208 5800 800, or send us a message via our contact page. We would be delighted to speak to you regarding the possibilities.
