The Home Office will now share locations of asylum seeker hotels with food delivery firms in a major crackdown on illegal delivery work. This new agreement with Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats aims to stop migrants without work rights from earning money through these platforms.
Under the scheme, delivery apps will monitor rider activity near asylum accommodation. If an account spends excessive time near these hotels, it may indicate illegal working. Additionally, the move targets riders who share accounts with unauthorized migrants.
Asylum seekers cannot work legally in the UK for their first 12 months. Despite this, some have reportedly been making money through delivery apps. Last month, the companies pledged stricter identity checks. Since then, thousands of unauthorized riders have been removed.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called illegal working a threat to fair business and public safety. She stated, “We are closing loopholes and increasing enforcement.” Meanwhile, Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats all confirmed their commitment to the crackdown on illegal delivery work.
This initiative coincides with new government sanctions against illegal migration networks. Authorities listed 25 individuals and groups involved in human smuggling, including boat suppliers and fake passport dealers. Foreign Secretary David Lammy vowed to “hold these gangs to account.”
However, experts doubt the sanctions will stop small boat crossings entirely. Dr. Madeleine Sumption of Oxford’s Migration Observatory said the impact may be limited. She explained, “Targeting individuals won’t dismantle the whole industry.”
While the crackdown on illegal delivery work strengthens enforcement, critics argue more systemic solutions are needed. The Home Office insists these steps will protect both workers and businesses. Yet, with migration remaining a heated political issue, further measures are likely.
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