In what the government has described as the largest enforcement operation on illegal working since records began, over 8,000 people were arrested in the UK last year, a 63 per cent increase.
For organisations that rely on gig-workers, platform labour or subcontracted services, this shift calls for an immediate review of verification and onboarding processes.
What has changed
The enforcement landscape has changed significantly:
- Between July 2024 and June 2025, Immigration Enforcement recorded nearly 10,000 workplace visits and 7,000 arrests for illegal working, marking one of the sharpest annual increases on record.
- Legislation and consultation are underway to extend existing Right to Work obligations into gig, casual, subcontracted and temporary worker models.
- Employers who fail to verify workers’ eligibility for employment risk fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker, business closure or criminal sanctions.
- The government has confirmed that a mandatory digital ID card scheme for Right to Work verification will be introduced by the end of this Parliament, signalling a structural shift in compliance.
This expansion forms part of a wider move to close long-standing loopholes.
Until now, only companies using traditional employer-employee contracts were legally required to verify immigration status and work eligibility. This left large parts of the labour market, including gig, casual and subcontracted workers, outside the system.
The new laws will change that. By extending Right to Work checks to these sectors, the government aims to ensure there is no hiding place for illegal workers or for companies who overlook compliance. Gig economy businesses and other flexible labour models are now squarely within scope.
Why the gig economy must pay attention
Recent estimates from HM Revenue & Customs suggest around five per cent of the UK working population, approximately 1.6 million people, are engaged in gig-economy roles.
These roles, often defined by high turnover, platform onboarding and non-standard contracts, align closely with the areas now being targeted by regulators.
With Right to Work checks set to include gig, subcontracted and temporary work models, the compliance landscape has fundamentally changed. What was once uncertain is now a confirmed area of enforcement.
What this means now
Earlier, in our commentary on the proposed digital ID card initiative (often referred to as the “BritCard”), we explored both its potential and its practical limitations. The current enforcement surge reinforces one message: waiting is not an option.
Whether the digital ID system becomes live next year or later, the compliance risk is already active. Organisations relying on gig-workers, platform delivery models or subcontracted labour must ensure their screening process is scalable, auditable and aligned both with emerging regulation and the enforcement already taking place.
A smarter solution today: combined Digital Right to Work + DBS journey
As the compliance bar rises, your screening solution must deliver on three essential capabilities: accuracy, scalability and auditability.
Our combined Digital Right to Work and DBS journey is designed to meet these needs:
- One unified workflow for identity verification, Right to Work checks and DBS screening
- A full audit trail that records what was done, when and by whom
- Built for high-volume, high-risk environments such as gig-economy platforms, delivery services and subcontractor networks
- Ready for deployment today, even while the digital ID system is still developing
Until the new digital ID system is fully implemented, this combined journey remains the most efficient and compliant way for organisations to protect their operations and demonstrate due diligence.
Preparing for tomorrow’s enforcement
The UK’s record crackdown on illegal working signals a new level of accountability for organisations. For organisations operating in flexible labour markets, verification needs to happen now.
Start with a review of your onboarding and Right to Work processes. Confirm that every worker is verified, documented and legally cleared before they start.
If you would like to explore how our combined journey can support your organisation across high-volume and high-risk labour models, we are ready to assist.
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