UK Extends Right-to-Work Laws to Gig Economy Platforms

The Government of the United Kingdom is preparing to extend stricter right-to-work laws in October to include gig economy platforms such as Uber Technologies Inc, Just Eat Takeaway.com NV, and Deliveroo Plc. The new regulations will make these firms legally responsible for verifying the immigration status of their flexible staff.

This policy shift follows a period of record immigration enforcement during the first half of 2026. Between January and June, immigration visits to the warehouse and delivery industry rose by 147%, while the construction sector saw a 150% increase compared to the previous year. These crackdowns occurred under the leadership of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The surge in enforcement actions responded to political pressure from right-wing parties, specifically Reform UK, which increased the public salience of illegal immigration. In response to the scrutiny, Deliveroo Plc stated that illegal working should be addressed and claimed the company has led the industry in cracking down on organized criminals who abuse its platform.