Employers face £60k fine for hiring illegal delivery riders

Companies that hire delivery riders without the legal right to work in the UK could face substantial financial penalties. The Home Office announced on October 1 that businesses found employing illegal delivery riders or other zero-hours contract workers may be fined £60,000 for each individual hired illegally. In addition to fines, employers could face director disqualification or a prison sentence of up to five years.

These new measures reinforce the legal obligation for businesses to ensure that all individuals working on their behalf are eligible to work in the United Kingdom. The penalty for employing someone without the correct work status can escalate to an unlimited fine and a five-year prison sentence if an employer knew or had reasonable cause to believe the worker was not legally permitted to work in the UK.

Requirements for Delivery Riders

Delivery riders are required to provide documentation that proves their legal status to work. This includes proof of the right to work in the UK as a self-employed individual. They must also possess a smartphone meeting specific operating system and hardware requirements, including NFC capability and suitable cameras. Riders need their own vehicle, such as a bicycle, scooter, or car, equipped with necessary safety gear, and a UK bank account.

The introduction of these penalties follows voluntary 'right to work' checks that platforms including Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat implemented for all account holders and registered substitutes in 2025. These checks aim to ensure compliance with employment regulations within the gig economy.

Calls for Improved Road Safety

In July, the London Assembly passed a motion advocating for enhanced road safety measures. Proposed by Conservative Assembly Member Thomas Turrell, the motion called on the Government to prohibit the use of provisional driving licences for commercial work, such as food delivery driving. The Assembly also recommended an expiry cap on compulsory basic training (CBT) certification to encourage riders to obtain full driving licences.

Louie French, the Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup, previously highlighted concerns about the proliferation of delivery drivers on mopeds. He stated that the Government must address the situation urgently to ensure all delivery drivers are working legally and not posing a risk to other road users. The new Home Office measures are intended to address these concerns by tightening regulations on employment eligibility.