Home Office Urges Food Delivery Firms to Enhance Security Against Unlawful Asylum Seeker Employment

The Home Office has issued a directive to food delivery companies to tighten their app security protocols to curb the unlawful employment of asylum seekers following an investigative report. It was discovered that asylum seekers residing in a migrant hotel were actively making deliveries for services such as Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats, prompting the government to intervene. The proposed security enhancement involves the integration of facial recognition technology into these mobile applications, similar to the systems already employed in many online banking applications. The intention is to ensure that only authenticated users can access delivery jobs, addressing concerns that registered users with permission to work in the UK are leasing or selling their access to asylum seekers.

In a recent meeting with ministers, major delivery companies committed to bolstering their security systems within the next three months. The Home Office plans to close a legal loophole that currently hinders the enforcement of laws against those employing asylum seekers on zero-hour contracts without formal employee status. This closure will expose companies to potential legal repercussions if they do not adequately prevent illegal employment practices. The government is advocating for facial recognition technology to ensure that app users verify their identity every time they log in to accept a delivery job, likening it to the security measures in place for banking apps. A Home Office source emphasized the need for such changes to effectively address the issue.

Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle and Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders met with delivery companies after reporters observed asylum seekers leaving a London hotel to make deliveries. Asylum seekers are prohibited from working for at least one year while their claims are processed, and those granted work permits face restrictions under Home Office regulations that bar them from delivering services. Dame Angela expressed the government's commitment to combating illegal working, emphasizing its adverse effects on legitimate businesses, employee wages, and the fight against human trafficking. Following the meeting, delivery firms expressed their commitment to enhancing verification checks. The ongoing parliamentary discussions surrounding the Government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill aim to clarify the responsibilities of companies to ensure their workforce is legally permitted to work, irrespective of employment classification. Reports indicate that this year alone, 18,400 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats, leading to an ongoing search by Home Office officials for alternative accommodations for the 32,345 asylum seekers currently housed in hotels.