Following a tightening of the rules on the sponsorship of skilled migrant workers, the UK Border Agency has launched an advertising campaign to raise awareness among recruiters and employers.

A UK Border agency spokesperson told Recruiter that the adverts, which appeared in the national, regional press and on radio in April and in the trade press this month, were necessary so that recruiters and employers were aware of the change in legislation.

Earlier this year, former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced that, from April, it would be a requirement for all businesses looking to recruit foreign migrant labour to advertise skilled jobs in Jobcentre Plus, a fortnight before offering the job to overseas workers.

The spokesperson added that aside from the campaign, information detailing the changes in legislation was prominently displayed on the UK Border Agency website. Initially the Agency would work with any sponsor that was not complying with the law to find ways for them to meet their duties.

It warned that action would be taken against further breaches and should the sponsor continue to fail to comply with their duties, or wilfully ignore their legal responsibilities, then the Agency could downgrade their sponsorship rating or, in the worst cases, use its own powers to remove them from the sponsor register and prosecute them.