Home Office partners with food delivery services

New measures aim to address illegal work among migrants in the UK.

Home Office partners with delivery firms to combat illegal working

The Home Office has announced a new agreement to share asylum hotel locations with food delivery services like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats. This initiative focuses on identifying migrants who may be working illegally in the UK. Last month, these companies began tightening their identity checks, reportedly removing thousands of individuals from their platforms. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the need to curb illegal work, stating it compromises legitimate businesses and exploits vulnerable people. This announcement coincides with the government's unveiling of sanctions against 25 targets linked to organized immigration crime, including gang leaders and providers of fake documents. Foreign Secretary David Lammy called this a pivotal step in the fight against dangerous smuggling operations, but some experts express skepticism about the plan's effectiveness in meaningfully reducing small boat crossings.

The Home Office's collaboration with delivery firms marks an aggressive stance on illegal immigration. While the initiative aims to tackle significant issues surrounding exploited labor and criminal activity, experts like Dr. Madeleine Sumption note that such measures may yield limited results. The complexity of the smuggling industry means addressing individual players might not curtail the overall problem. This raises questions about the government's broader strategy in immigration and enforcement, as a focus on sanctions can distract from deeper systemic issues that require comprehensive solutions.

Highlights

The effectiveness of these measures will be closely monitored as the government seeks to balance enforcement with humane immigration policy.