Should delivery firms, like Uber Eats, face bigger fines over couriers working in the UK illegally?
From 1 October 2026 gig economy platforms including Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat must carry out right to work checks on couriers or face civil penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker plus possible criminal sanctions. Police operations have found around one in ten delivery riders stopped were working without authorisation, often via shared or rented accounts. The government extended the scheme to close a prior loophole that treated many gig couriers as self-employed.
5 Opinions
If their business model isn't sustainable without openly breaking the law, let them fail.
Of course not, who, at the end of the day is going to be paying extra? The consumer. If illegal immigrants are working, at least they are contributing to the economy with the no st they earn. Just shows that the vetting process needs to speed up, so they can work legally.
First and foremost the government of the day needs to get a grip of illegal immigration. If the did that then the illegals couldn't be working here.
Employers need to take a level of responsibility for their employees, and that their employment is legal.
All companies should pay penalties if hiring illegally. The penalties should double with each illegal caught. UK budget saved.