diff --git a/pa_job_manager.py b/pa_job_manager.py
index c3574ba..37fb947 100644
--- a/pa_job_manager.py
+++ b/pa_job_manager.py
@@ -227,10 +227,11 @@ def ProcessImportDirs(parent_job=None):
     if settings == None:
         raise Exception("Cannot create file data with no settings / import path is missing")
     paths = settings.import_path.split("#")
+    now=datetime.now(pytz.utc)
     for path in paths:
         # make new Job; HandleJobs will make them run later
         jex=JobExtra( name="path", value=path )
-        job=Job(start_time='now()', last_update='now()', name="importdir", state="New", wait_for=None, pa_job_state="New", current_file_num=0, num_files=0 )
+        job=Job(start_time=now, last_update=now, name="importdir", state="New", wait_for=None, pa_job_state="New", current_file_num=0, num_files=0 )
         job.extra.append(jex)
         session.add(job)
         session.commit()
@@ -239,14 +240,14 @@ def ProcessImportDirs(parent_job=None):
         # force commit to make job.id be valid in use of wait_for later
         session.commit()
         jex2=JobExtra( name="path", value=path )
-        job2=Job(start_time='now()', last_update='now()', name="getfiledetails", state="New", wait_for=job.id, pa_job_state="New", current_file_num=0 )
+        job2=Job(start_time=now, last_update=now, name="getfiledetails", state="New", wait_for=job.id, pa_job_state="New", current_file_num=0 )
         job2.extra.append(jex2)
         session.add(job2)
         session.commit()
         if parent_job:
             AddLogForJob(parent_job, "adding <a href='/job/{}'>job id={} {}</a> (wait for: {})".format( job2.id, job2.id, job2.name, job2.wait_for ) )
         jex3=JobExtra( name="path", value=path )
-        job3=Job(start_time='now()', last_update='now()', name="processai", state="New", wait_for=job2.id, pa_job_state="New", current_file_num=0 )
+        job3=Job(start_time=now, last_update=now, name="processai", state="New", wait_for=job2.id, pa_job_state="New", current_file_num=0 )
         job3.extra.append(jex3)
         session.add(job3)
         session.commit()