Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat to crack down on illegal workers

Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats are to introduce tighter security checks on their apps to crack down on illegal working, the government has said.

As delivery riders are self-employed, they have the right to ask other people to carry out work on their behalf.

The government said a “small minority” of drivers had “taken advantage” of this system to avoid completing right to work checks.

In March, an investigation by The i newspaper found evidence of a growing black market for substitute riders. This allows people who would fail a criminal background check or are in the country illegally to rent a profile on a delivery app to take on work.

Michael Tomlinson, minister for countering illegal migration, said the loophole put customers at risk and was costing the taxpayer.

Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats have all committed to tighter checks to ensure substitute riders have the right to work legally in the UK.

Deliveroo was the first app to roll out a new substitution registration feature, including right to work checks, earlier this month.

It follows a visit to Deliveroo’s London headquarters by ministers last week.

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 Home Office said visits made by its enforcement officers to tackle illegal working rose by 68% last year.

“I thank all three companies for their willingness to work with us to protect the British public, and sincerely hope that the changes we have discussed today are put into practice as swiftly as possible,” said Tomlinson.

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