UK Signs Historic Agreement With Food Delivery Apps To Combat Illegal Working 2025

Written by

Mynaz Altaf

Fact check by

Shreya Pandey

Updated on

Jul 28,2025

UK Signs Historic Agreement With Food Delivery Apps To Combat Illegal Working - TerraTern

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The UK food delivery app deal is a significant change towards the approach to identifying those who immigrate in ways that are not acceptable. On July 22, 2025, the Home Office also revealed a radical collaboration with the largest delivery platforms to address unauthorised work in the gig economy.

The Government Acts on Abuse of Account Sharing

The new operational collaboration entails three massive operations in the sector: Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats. Now, these companies will obtain sensitive information concerning the locations of asylum hotels to find possible cases of misuse of accounts. 

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated, "Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals, and fuels organised immigration crime." The project follows disclosures that asylum seekers are already illegally employed within hours of landing in the UK.

Enhanced Security Measures Roll Out

The enhanced security measures roll out:

Facial Recognition Technology Implementation

The delivery platforms are committed to reinforcing their verification systems, including:

  • Daily identity checks (upgraded from monthly for Just Eat)

  • High-level facial recognition software, online fraud monitoring systems

  • Suspension of accounts on the spot for committing inappropriate actions

Also Read: Most Common Reasons For UK Visa Rejection: Don’t Make These

Data Sharing Protocol

On the food delivery app arrangement in the UK, companies get access to:

  • Asylum accommodation deals with

  • Hotel proximity location data

  • Suspicious activity pattern recognition

  • Fine-tuned right-to-work checking systems

Security Measure

Before Agreement

After Agreement

Identity Checks

Monthly (Just Eat)

Daily across all platforms

Facial Recognition

Basic verification

Advanced AI-powered systems

Data Access

Limited company data

Government asylum hotel locations

Response Time

Standard processing

Real-time suspension capability

 

Enforcement Statistics Reveal Scale of Problem

Recent government data shows the magnitude of illegal working in food delivery:

Metric

2024 Figures

% Change

Enforcement visits

10,000+

+50% increase

Arrests made

7,130

Significant rise

Civil penalty notices (Q1 2025)

750

+80% year-on-year

Accounts suspended

Thousands

Ongoing removals

Home Office carried out more than 4,000 immigration raids during the first three quarters of 2023, compared with 70 per cent in 2022.381 arrests from specific enforcement targeting the food delivery sector.

Also Read: Dream Big and Get Your UK Work Visa for Indians

Impact on Asylum Seekers and Legal Framework

The impact of asylum seekers and the legal framework:

Current Legal Restrictions

There are strict restrictions on employment for asylum seekers:

  • No employment for the first 12 months in the UK

  • Until approval to apply for asylum, no employment is allowed.

  • Destitution-conditional financial assistance

  • Instant reaction to the violation of the rules

Border Security Minister Angela Eagle confirmed a "zero-tolerance approach to illegal working" that "undercuts honest business, hits people's wages and plays into the hands of people-smuggling gangs".

Business Penalties and Compliance Requirements

The business penalties and compliance requirements are:

Financial Consequences for Employers

The punishment of companies that use illegal immigrants is harsh:

  • The penalties include up to 60,000 pounds per illegal worker

  • Director disqualifications could happen

  • Terms of imprisonment as long as 5 years

  • Civil penalty notices are issued every quarter

Also Read: A Complete Guide to UK Family Visa

Upcoming Legislative Changes

The government's Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill will mandate:

  • All companies in the gig economy would be required to check their legal verification requirements

  • All-encompassing right-to-work verification of all employees

  • Seal the loopholes of the flexible working arrangement.

Industry Response and Implementation Timeline

The industry response and implementation timeline are: 

Company Commitments

A Deliveroo spokesperson confirmed, "Deliveroo has led the sector in introducing security measures to prevent abuse of our platform and tackle sophisticated criminals seeking new ways to exploit all delivery platforms' systems".

Company

Specific Measures

Timeline

Deliveroo

Enhanced verification quantity/sophistication

90 days

Uber Eats

Upgraded facial recognition systems

90 days

Just Eat

Daily checks (from monthly)

90 days

The Home Office will conduct regular progress meetings with all three companies in the coming weeks.

Broader Immigration Strategy Context

This UK food delivery contract service is within the broader immigration reforms:

  • In the previous year, there was a return of 35,000 persons who had no right to stay in the country

  • Small boats migrant returning agreement in New France

  • Full-check background avenues of legal migration

  • Immigration raids and arrests increased by 50 per cent.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on July 23: "We're cracking down on migrants working illegally as food delivery riders. We will do what it takes to ensure fairness for British people".

Also Read: Get Your UK Visitor Visa Fast and Easy

Technology and Detection Methods

The technology and detection methods are:

Advanced Monitoring Systems

The collaboration facilitates the advanced tracking functions:

  • Surrounding analysis of asylum hotels

  • Pattern matching abuse of accounts

  • Work-time identity checking in real time

  • Automated automatic suspension of violations

Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement at the Home Office, explained, "This coordinated working with delivery firms will help us target those who seek to work illegally in the gig economy and exploit their status in the UK".

Conclusion

The agreement with the UK food delivery app is a historic pivot in addressing illegal employment involving the collaboration of the population and businesses. This holistic measure combines technological advancement and upgraded information communication to save honest workers while preserving the integrity of immigration laws. The initiative's success depends on consistent implementation across all platforms and continued government oversight to ensure compliance with the new verification standards.

To stay updated with the latest immigration news, contact TerraTern right away!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UK Food delivery app agreement?

It's a partnership between the UK Home Office and major delivery platforms (Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats) to prevent illegal working by sharing asylum hotel location data and enhancing verification systems.

What will the new security be?

Business organizations will daily use real-time fraud, facial recognition, and identity verification. They'll receive asylum hotel locations to identify suspicious account activity patterns

What do drivers who are caught sharing accounts with other garages do?

Suspension of accounts immediately takes place on discovering that any of the riders' share accounts are unauthorised takes place. The platform gets permanently deactivated for the holder of the account.

What is the time of occurrence of such changes?

All security improvements should be given a timeframe of 0 days during which improvements should be made, as was announced on July 22, 2025, and periodical improvements will be reported.

What is the punishment for businesses that hire illegal workers?

Fines can be imposed up to 60,000 pounds per illegal worker, the director can be disqualified, and the director can even be imprisoned for up to 5 years in case of serious offences.