Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have agreed to improve identity verification for delivery drivers to address illegal employment in the UK.
The decision follows a meeting at the Home Office on 30 June 2025. The companies aim to curb immigration violations on their services.
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The company’s optional “right to work” verifications for account holders and their substitutes have restricted unauthorised workers from accessing their platforms. Thousands of accounts have been penalised as a result.
But despite these measures, ministers Angela Eagle and Justin Madders voiced concerns over persistent issues with improper account sharing.
The government maintains a strict no-tolerance policy on immigration offences.
The companies have also committed to expanding facial recognition and fraud prevention technology.
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By GlobalDataThis will ensure that only authorised account holders can operate on their platforms. The measures aim to prevent those without UK work permissions from earning money unlawfully.
Within 90 days of the agreement, Deliveroo and Uber Eats will increase the frequency and complexity of their checks. Just Eat will move from monthly to daily identity verifications, establishing a robust new industry benchmark.
The development coincides with forthcoming changes under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
Firms in gig economy sectors, such as food delivery, will be required to verify worker eligibility, aligning them with other UK businesses.
The Home Office’s intensified enforcement forms part of the government’s Plan for Change which aims to restore order to the national immigration framework. Efforts to combat illegal working have significantly increased.
Between 5 July 2024 to 31 May 2025, 9,000 immigration enforcement operations resulted in 6,410 detentions. This reflects a 48% rise in operations and a 51% increase in detentions compared to the previous year.
Almost 30,000 individuals without UK residency rights have been deported.
UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum Angela Eagle 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 the people smuggling gangs.
“I welcome Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats’ pledge to increase facial verification checks following today’s roundtable. We will keep a close eye on their progress and continue discussions.
“Under our Plan for Change, we are taking a zero tolerance approach to illegal working across the board. Arrests nationwide have increased 51% and we are strengthening legislation via our borders bill to end the abuse of flexible working arrangements.”
