Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats agree to security checks in illegal working crackdown

Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats have committed to introducing extra security checks to crack down on riders working illegally, the Government has said.

Workers in the gig economy are self-employed and have the right to substitute another rider to carry out jobs.

Officials said a “small minority" of riders have taken advantage of the substitute system to avoid completing right to work checks.

Data obtained by the Standard last year revealed that 66 delivery riders were arrested in London in the year to August for alleged immigration offences as the Home Office intensified its crackdown.

Some campaigners had accused the authorities of racial profiling by targeting riders “regardless of their immigration status”, but others said it was justified due to the specific problem of riders working without authorisation in the UK.

Speaking after meeting with the three companies on Monday, illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson said: “Illegal working puts their customers at risk, drives down wages and defrauds the taxpayer.

“It is vital that we shut down any loophole that allows it to happen."

The companies have now committed to introducing in "enhanced security checks", the Government said.

Deliveroo is the first to roll out a new substitute registration feature, including right to work checks, earlier this month.

All three companies have vowed they have stringent checks to make sure riders have the right to work in the UK, with riders who fail to provide proof of their right-to-work having their access to the platforms removed.

A Deliveroo spokesperson said: “We take our responsibilities extremely seriously and are committed to strengthening our controls to prevent misuse of our platform.

“We are the first major platform to roll out direct right to work checks, a registration process and identity verification technology to ensure that only substitutes with right to work can continue riding on our platform.”

The crackdown comes amid a toughening stance on immigration from the Conservatives, which the party hopes will prove to be a dividing line at the upcoming general election.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks after emergency legislation was passed deeming Rwanda a safe country, despite opposition in the House of Lords.