Labour’s Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, is set to unveil tough new measures targeting businesses that employ undocumented workers, as part of a broader effort to tackle illegal immigration.
Under the new rules, business owners could face fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker, director disqualification, and prison sentences of up to five years if found employing undocumented staff. The crackdown will focus on industries like beauty salons, car washes, construction sites, restaurants, and food delivery services.
For the first time, businesses hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers—including couriers and food delivery drivers—will be legally required to conduct employment checks, bringing them in line with traditional employers. Companies like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats already conduct voluntary checks, but these will now become mandatory across the sector.
Cooper emphasized that illegal employment fuels people smuggling networks and undercuts law-abiding businesses, stating:
“Turning a blind eye to illegal working plays into the hands of callous people smugglers… These exploitative practices attempt to undercut competitors who follow the rules.”
Labour has taken a harder-than-expected stance on illegal immigration since taking office, ramping up raids, arrests, and deportations, while scrapping controversial Conservative policies like Rwanda deportation flights.
From May 2025, Immigration Enforcement teams will also be equipped with body-worn cameras, backed by £5 million, to gather evidence and increase prosecutions against exploitative businesses.
Since July, officials have conducted 6,784 illegal working visits, made 4,779 arrests, and issued 1,508 civil penalties, reflecting a 40% increase in enforcement activity compared to the previous year.
