UK Government To Provide Delivery Apps With Asylum Hotel Data in Crackdown on Illegal Work
The Home Office is now sharing the locations of hotels housing asylum seekers with major food delivery platforms Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats in a move to target illegal working. The aim is to help these companies flag suspicious activity like drivers with frequent app usage near specific hotels and to help spot delivery drivers who are account sharing with people who are not allowed to work in the UK.
Asylum seekers aren’t allowed to work for the first 12 months of their claim, but concerns have grown over some allegedly earning money through delivery gigs. All three companies say they’re on board with the system, and are rolling out tougher ID checks and fraud tools. Thousands of accounts have already been suspended, with Deliveroo saying it’s leading the charge against “sophisticated criminals,” while Just Eat and Uber Eats pledged more enforcement.
This data-sharing move comes amid broader government efforts to curb illegal migration, including sanctions against people-smuggling gangs. While ministers hope these efforts will deter crossings, some experts warn that the real impact may be limited given the scale of the issue.
