Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has taken a firm stance against illegal employment in the gig economy, vowing to make it significantly harder for undocumented migrants to secure jobs. As part of her commitment to restoring order to the asylum system, Cooper announced that employers who illegally hire migrants could face up to five years in prison, hefty fines, or even closure of their businesses. Her remarks come ahead of an international summit set to take place in London on March 31 and April 1, 2025, where officials from 40 countries will convene to address issues surrounding organized immigration crime.
Cooper highlighted the need for stringent laws to combat the ease with which illegal immigrants can find work, particularly in sectors like fast food delivery and beauty salons. “We are restoring order to the asylum system. This means introducing tough laws and stopping rogue employers in their tracks,” she stated in an interview with The Telegraph. “We will clamp down on the jobs on tap that undercut the labour market.”
The summit will focus on various aspects of international cooperation, including supply routes, criminal finances, and online advertisements promoting dangerous crossings. Countries such as Albania, Vietnam, and Iraq, which are known sources of migrants to the UK, will participate in the discussions alongside major players like France, the US, and China.
Recent statistics highlight the growing crisis, with a record number of individuals arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel this year. In response to this influx, the government has intensified its efforts to dismantle smuggling operations. Last year alone, over 8,000 advertisements on social media promoting dangerous crossings were removed, and approximately 600 engines were confiscated, with hundreds of arrests made in connection to these smuggling activities.
Cooper’s plans include expanding right-to-work checks to cover casual and temporary workers, which will be incorporated into amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill currently progressing through Parliament. Businesses failing to conduct these checks could face fines of up to £60,000 per worker, and repeat offenders may face disqualification from directorships or prison sentences of up to five years.
“Turning a blind eye to illegal working plays into the hands of callous people smugglers trying to sell spaces on flimsy, overcrowded boats with the promise of work and a life in the UK,” Cooper remarked. “These exploitative practices are often an attempt to undercut competitors who are doing the right thing.”
The government’s crackdown on illegal employment aligns with its broader strategy to enhance border security and reduce organized immigration crime. Cooper emphasized that these new laws are vital for maintaining the integrity of the UK’s borders, which have faced increasing scrutiny amid rising numbers of illegal crossings.
In April 2023, random checks by immigration officials revealed that two out of every five food delivery riders stopped were working illegally. Some asylum seekers living in taxpayer-funded hotels were reportedly earning up to £1,500 a month from such jobs, raising concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
Cooper’s initiatives also come in light of criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Conservatives, who have labeled Labour’s claims of being tough on immigration as “risible.” Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart criticized the government’s approach, stating, “This is the wrong end of the problem. The fact of the matter is that when the Government came into power last summer, it scrapped the (Rwanda) deterrent programme that we had set up.”
As the Labour Party seeks to shift public focus from its Spring Statement to its immigration control plans, Cooper is also exploring options for striking returns agreements to send failed asylum seekers to the Balkans. This reflects a significant shift in Labour’s stance on immigration, driven by increasing electoral pressure from parties like Reform.
Despite these efforts, the Home Office has admitted that it does not have a clear understanding of the number of illegal immigrants residing in the UK or how many people have overstayed their visas. Estimates suggest that the undocumented population could range between 800,000 and 1.2 million, according to a 2019 report by the Pew Research Center. This report indicated that more than half of these individuals hail from Asia, with a significant portion also coming from Sub-Saharan Africa.
Britain’s relatively lax border laws have made it an attractive destination for illegal migrants, with France attributing the ongoing Channel crisis to the lack of stringent controls on unauthorized work. The situation has prompted officials to label the UK an “El Dorado” for economic migrants, highlighting the urgent need for reforms to address the underlying issues driving this crisis.
As the international summit approaches, the focus will remain on collaborative strategies to combat organized immigration crime and enhance border security. The discussions will aim to explore how different countries can share intelligence and resources to tackle the challenges posed by human smuggling and illegal employment.
In summary, Yvette Cooper’s commitment to tightening immigration controls and cracking down on illegal employment reflects a broader effort to restore order to the asylum system and protect the integrity of the UK’s borders. With significant penalties for businesses that fail to comply with new regulations, the government is taking a proactive approach to address the challenges posed by organized crime in the immigration sector.
