Busted: Up to five years’ imprisonment for directors, senior managers who hire illegal workers

Workers found working illegally now face arrest, detention, and removal from the UK

Employers in the UK who rely on foreign workers, such as those in the fast-food delivery and hospitality sectors, face unprecedented enforcement action as the government closes legal loopholes and introduces severe penalties for non-compliance. Therefore, recruitment agencies must be vigilant with candidates’ right to work compliance when putting candidates forward to clients.

More than 170 people were arrested during November 2025 as part of a nationwide crackdown targeting illegal working in the UK’s gig economy, with approximately 60 delivery riders now facing deportation, according to Home Office and ITV News reports. has announced.

The enforcement operation, which focused primarily on food delivery services, represents the government’s most significant action against illegal working in years, with arrests increasing by 63% compared to the previous 12-month period.

Enforcement activity at new record high

Those arrested included Chinese nationals working in a restaurant in Solihull, West Midlands, Bangladeshi and Indian riders in Newham, east London, and Indian delivery riders in Norwich, Norfolk, according to the Home Office.

New figures show more than 8,000 illegal migrants have been arrested after 11,000 raids were carried out by Immigration Enforcement from October 2024 to September 2025, marking the largest enforcement crackdown on illegal working since records began. The data reveals a significant year-on-year increase of 63% for arrests and 51% for visits respectively.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was personally present at an operation in Streatham, south London, it has been reported. Video footage released by the Home Office shows officers escorting arrested individuals into immigration enforcement vans.

Sweeping legal changes for gig economy

The crackdown coincides with major legislative reforms that came into force through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act. Included in the legislation are measures to close a “loophole” for casual, temporary or subcontracted workers to also have to prove their status.

For the first time, companies operating in the gig economy—including food delivery platforms, construction firms, beauty salons, and courier services—will be legally required to conduct right-to-work checks on all workers, bringing them in line with traditional employers.

Severe employer penalties for non-compliance

The consequences for employers who fail to comply with the new regulations are substantial:

• Up to five years’ imprisonment for directors and senior managers
• Fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker employed
• Business closure orders

Director disqualifications

Where businesses fail to carry out these checks, they will face hefty penalties already in place for those hiring illegal workers in traditional roles, including fines of up to £60,000 per worker, business closures, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to 5 years.

According to recent enforcement data, first-time breaches can attract fines of up to £45,000 per illegal worker, whilst repeat offences can reach the maximum £60,000 penalty.

What employers must do

Right-to-work checks are now mandatory across all sectors, including those previously exempt from verification requirements. Employers must:

Verify immigration status before any worker begins employment

Retain documented evidence of all checks for the duration of employment plus two years

Conduct follow-up checks for workers with time-limited permission

Implement robust compliance systems to ensure no gaps in verification

The checks can be completed quickly—often within minutes—using the Home Office’s free online verification system. Employers may also use certified digital identity verification technology to streamline the process.

Critically, even when using recruitment agencies or identity service providers, the ultimate legal responsibility remains with the employer.

Gig platforms respond to illegal worker crackdown

Major delivery platforms have committed to strengthening their verification processes. Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have committed to increasing the number of daily facial recognition checks riders are required to take to verify their identity.

The Home Office has also begun sharing asylum accommodation locations with food delivery companies to help identify potential hotspots of illegal working.

Information for workers

Workers in the gig economy should be aware that:

• All workers must have valid right-to-work status before commencing any employment
• Anyone caught flagrantly abusing the system will face having support discontinued, whether that is asylum support or other benefits
• Individuals found working illegally face arrest, detention, and removal from the UK
• Account-sharing on delivery platforms is being actively targeted through enhanced facial recognition and device verification

For those with temporary permission to work, it is essential to ensure documentation remains current and to inform employers before permissions expire.

Government strategy

The government has invested £5 million in Immigration Enforcement under Operation Sterling, specifically targeting illegal working in takeaways, fast food delivery services, beauty salons, and car washes. From May 2025, immigration enforcement officers will be equipped with body-worn cameras to gather evidence supporting prosecutions.

Border Security Minister Alex Norris stated these results should send a clear message:

If you are working illegally in this country, you will be arrested and removed.

As well as delivering record levels of enforcement, we are tightening the law to clamp down on illegal working in the delivery sector to root out this criminality from our communities.

This action is part of the most sweeping changes to illegal migration in modern times to reduce the incentives that draw illegal migrations here and scale up removals.

Recruiters must make compliance critical

For recruitment agencies and employers across all sectors, the message is clear: robust right-to-work compliance systems are no longer optional. With enforcement at unprecedented levels and penalties reaching into six figures for multiple violations, businesses must prioritise verification processes immediately.

The Home Office provides comprehensive guidance and support for employers navigating the new requirements, available at www.gov.uk.

Workers uncertain about their immigration status or right-to-work permission should seek professional legal advice promptly to avoid potential enforcement action.