The UK Home Office has launched a nationwide crackdown targeting asylum seekers working illegally in the gig economy, following growing political pressure and media reports.
The operation will focus on disrupting illegal employment among migrants living in asylum hotels or those receiving government support. According to the Home Office, enforcement teams will concentrate on food delivery platforms, such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat, where asylum seekers have reportedly been working by using other people’s accounts.
Increased enforcement against illegal work
The Home Office stated that “strategic, intelligence-led operations” will be carried out across the UK to target individuals suspected of illegal working while staying in taxpayer-funded accommodation. Migrants found working illegally risk losing their housing or financial support.
Companies employing such workers could face severe penalties, including fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker, director disqualifications, or even imprisonment.
The move follows reports that asylum seekers, who are banned from working while their claims are processed, have been delivering food using log-ins borrowed from individuals with legal work status. The controversy escalated after Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp shared a viral video showing dozens of food delivery bikes outside an asylum hotel in London.
Delivery firms tighten security checks
In response, Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat have agreed to strengthen identity checks for delivery riders, including enhanced facial verification technology, following an urgent meeting with government ministers.
Labour government under pressure over immigration
The government revealed a rise in enforcement and arrests related to illegal work since Labour came to power, amid mounting pressure from opposition parties like Reform UK and the Conservatives.
Despite efforts to reduce the backlog of asylum claims, small boat crossings from France to the UK continue to surge. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to meet French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss potential new agreements, including a proposed “one in, one out” asylum deal.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated the government is stepping up action to deter illegal work among asylum seekers but stressed that the migration crisis requires a broader, multi-faceted strategy.
“There’s no single solution to illegal migration,” Cooper said, citing international partnerships and arrests of human smugglers.
Shadow Home Secretary Philp criticized the government’s slow response, accusing ministers of allowing illegal work in asylum hotels funded by taxpayers.
