HR Articles

A lot of businesses who are considering applying for a sponsor licence or have recently been granted a sponsor licence may have heard the terms level 1 and level 2 user frequently, but what does each term mean?

As of 6th April 2020, the rules relating to agency workers will change, something which may prove costly to businesses presently using agency workers, and which requires action to ensure businesses are compliant with the new law.

As we approach the end of January, most sponsors would have received their first reminders from the Home Office to renew their yearly Certificate of Sponsorship allocation. This renewal is important, and all Sponsors must apply for this renewal should they wish to sponsor migrants on an unrestricted CoS.

In 2005, The European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/14/EC was transposed into UK law, setting out a framework for implementing information and consultation agreements with employees if validly requested (the ICE Regulations).

The Migration Advisory Committee has released an extensive report on the Points-Based System and Salary Thresholds. This was commissioned by the Government in July and September of last year.

The government has highlighted through its vision of an Australian-style points-based immigration system, that it will focus on attracting the best talent to the UK. It has already confirmed that it will invest up to £300 million over the next 5 years to fund experimental and imaginative mathematical sciences research through the best global talent.

Despite the consultation period for their draft Right of Access Guidance remaining open until the 12th February, the Information Commissioner’s Office (the “ICO”) has amended its published guidance on the timescales for Data Subject Access Request (“DSAR”) compliance.

Following our previous blog on the consultation for parental bereavement leave, yesterday the Government laid down the new regulations before Parliament which will come into force on 6 April 2020.

From 6 April 2017, employers are liable to pay an Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) if they want to sponsor a skilled migrant from outside of the EEA to work for them in the UK. The purpose of the ISC is to incentivise employers to train British workers and to deter employers in recruiting migrant workers unless necessary. This was aimed at closing the skills gap created in the labour market.

The past month has seen heated debate between certain Nordic countries and the EU, over the EU’s plans to implement a statutory minimum wage framework applicable across all member states.