In a concerted effort to curb illegal employment practices, the UK's leading food delivery companies—Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat—have pledged to enhance their security protocols. This move comes in response to government concerns about asylum seekers working illegally as couriers. The companies will roll out advanced facial verification and fraud detection technologies within the next 90 days to ensure that only registered account holders can operate on their platforms.

Increased Security Measures

The decision follows a meeting with Home Office ministers, where the issue of illegal work was discussed. Reports have surfaced indicating that some asylum seekers, who are not permitted to work during the first year of their stay in the UK or until their asylum applications are approved, have been using these platforms to earn money. The government has highlighted the problem of "illicit account sharing," which allows individuals without the right to work to use someone else's account.

Government and Industry Response

Dame Angela Eagle, the minister for border security and asylum, stated, "This government will not turn a blind eye to illegal working. It undercuts honest business, hits people's wages, and plays into the hands of people-smuggling gangs." The government has mandated that companies in the gig economy conduct right-to-work checks, aligning them with other employers. Failure to comply could result in fines up to £60,000 per worker, business closures, and even prison sentences.

Corporate Commitment

Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat have expressed their commitment to tackling this issue. A Deliveroo spokesperson noted, "We take a zero-tolerance approach to anyone abusing our platform," while Uber Eats emphasized its investment in industry-leading tools to detect and remove fraudulent accounts. Just Eat reiterated its support for government efforts and pledged to continue investing in resources to protect its network's integrity.