Express investigation leads Home Office to tell food delivery firms they must act
Food delivery firms are being told to stop asylum seekers working unlawfully by improving the security of their mobile phone apps, after an Express investigation revealed men in a migrant hotel were making deliveries for services such as Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats.
The Home Office wants delivery businesses to add a facial recognition feature to apps used to assign jobs to drivers, similar to security features already in place in many online banking services. It would ensure that only the registered user is able to use the app, amid fears that people with the right to work in the UK are registering accounts with courier firms and then selling or renting access to asylum seekers.
Food delivery firms have been warned about using asylum seekers (Image: Daily Express)
On Monday, the three businesses pledged to improve security within 90 days, after a meeting with ministers.
The Home Office is to close a legal loophole which currently makes it difficult to take legal action against businesses giving work to asylum seekers, if the workers are on zero-hour contracts and not officially classed as employees.
It will mean firms face the threat of legal action if they fail to prevent people working for them illegally. It is up to businesses how they enforce the law, but the Home Office is urging delivery firms to use facial recognition methods that have already been proven to be effective in other contexts.
A Home Office source said: “They could introduce facial recognition every time you log into the app to pick up a job. Something like that would clamp down on this.
“A bit like every time you open your banking app you have to use face ID, it would mean every time you pick up a delivery job on the app, you have to prove you are eligible.
“The Home Office does have a responsibility. But these big tech food companies could also help.”
Borders minister Dame Angela Eagle told delivery firms to act (Image: Getty)
Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle and Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders yesterday met with delivery firms after our reporters saw at least 10 men over two nights leaving a central London asylum hotel and carrying out deliveries. Asylum seekers cannot work for at least a year when waiting for claims to be processed and even those given permits cannot work as couriers under Home Office rules.
Dame Angela said: “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.”
A Deliveroo spokesperson said: “We take a zero-tolerance approach to anyone abusing our platform.”
An Uber Eats spokesperson said: “We are committed to tackling illegal working and welcome continued collaboration with industry and the Home Office.”
A Just Eat spokesperson said: “Just Eat fully supports the Government’s efforts to tackle illegal working, and we are continuing to invest significant resources to protect the integrity of our network.”
The Government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, currently being debated in Parliament, will make it clear that firms must ensure all their staff are working legally even if they are not formally classed as employees.
So far this year, 18,400 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats. Home Office officials are searching for alternative accommodation for the 32,345 asylum seekers in hotel accommodation and are examining derelict tower blocks, old teacher training colleges and unused student accommodation.