Focused on enforcement of right-to-work checks and gig economy risks
In 2025, the UK government is intensifying enforcement measures targeting illegal working, signaling a renewed focus on employer compliance and the vulnerability of migrant workers—particularly in the growing gig economy. With rising political and public pressure to reduce irregular migration, the Home Office has expanded both its inspection capacity and penalty regime.
We explain what migrants and employers need to know about the current crackdown, highlighting new enforcement trends, the legal obligations around right-to-work checks, and the unique risks in flexible work arrangements.
Right-to-Work Enforcement Is Increasing
Employers have a legal duty to prevent illegal working under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. This requires every employer in the UK to carry out prescribed checks to ensure that all staff have valid permission to work. Failure to do so can lead to severe civil penalties and even criminal sanctions.
In 2024, the Home Office increased civil penalty fines to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first offence and £60,000 for repeat breaches—up from £20,000 previously. Immigration enforcement teams have also been given greater powers to conduct surprise inspections across high-risk sectors such as hospitality, logistics, construction, agriculture, and delivery services.
As part of the 2025 enforcement agenda, digital verification systems such as the Employer Checking Service and Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) are now more widely used, especially for remote and digital hiring. Employers who fail to keep up with these systems risk non-compliance—even if unintentional.
Gig Economy Workers Face Heightened Risk
The rise of flexible work through platforms like delivery apps, ride-hailing services, and freelance marketplaces has created a grey zone in labour regulation. While these platforms often treat workers as independent contractors, immigration law makes no such distinction when it comes to the right to work.
Migrant workers who accept gig economy jobs without valid permission—whether knowingly or not—may be classed as working illegally. Similarly, platforms and companies that fail to ensure workers are eligible to work in the UK may face civil penalties if deemed to be “employing” in substance, even without a traditional employment contract.
In many cases, gig workers are unaware that the flexibility of their work does not exempt them from immigration rules. Some may hold student visas with work hour restrictions, while others may be waiting for decisions on visa applications without actual permission to work.
What Employers Must Do
To stay compliant in this stricter enforcement climate, employers must take the following steps:
- Conduct full right-to-work checks before employment begins. This includes manual document checks, Home Office online checks, or IDVT where applicable.
- Repeat checks where necessary, especially for workers with time-limited permission.
- Keep accurate records of the checks and follow guidance on document retention.
- Avoid assumptions about who is likely to have permission to work—checks must be applied to all staff, regardless of nationality.
- Monitor self-employed relationships in high-risk sectors (e.g., delivery or cleaning services) to ensure immigration risks are identified and mitigated.
What Migrants Should Know
For migrants working in the UK, especially those in informal or flexible roles, the following points are crucial:
- Always confirm your visa conditions, including whether you are allowed to work and for how many hours.
- Do not rely on assumptions from agencies, recruiters, or platforms—responsibility ultimately lies with you.
- Avoid working while awaiting a visa decision, unless you have legal permission under section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971.
- Report exploitation if you’re being forced to work illegally or under coercive conditions—support is available without immediate risk of deportation in some cases.
Working illegally can lead to detention, removal from the UK, and bans on future re-entry. For visa holders, it can also damage future applications for extensions or settlement.
Zero Tolerance
The government’s current stance is clear: illegal working is being treated as a national priority linked to immigration control, modern slavery prevention, and economic regulation. As such, both employers and migrants must act with heightened awareness and responsibility.
The gig economy and informal work sectors are no longer under the radar. With increased inspections, harsher fines, and digital monitoring tools, the Home Office is better equipped than ever to detect and penalize non-compliance.
Conclusion: Stay Informed, Stay Compliant
The crackdown on illegal working is part of a broader shift toward stricter immigration control and employer accountability. Whether you’re an employer in a high-risk sector or a migrant seeking flexible income opportunities, now is the time to review your legal responsibilities and take steps to avoid costly errors.
At LightMega Immigration, we provide support for right-to-work compliance, sponsor license management, and visa advisory services. If you’re unsure about your work status or employment practices, get in touch today for expert guidance.
