Uber Eats has dismissed thousands of couriers or blocked them from its app as part of a crackdown on illegal immigrant workers.

The US tech giant confirmed that it removes hundreds of rider accounts each month following a stricter right-to-work verification system introduced in partnership with the Home Office last year. Delivery platforms have faced increasing pressure to address the misuse of their services by undocumented workers, particularly through the abuse of the substitution system. Under UK employment law, freelancers can designate a substitute to work on their behalf.

Companies like Uber Eats and Deliveroo have strengthened their identity checks for riders. Uber Eats now requires couriers to submit random selfies while working and undergo video-based identity verification when setting up their accounts. These measures apply to both primary couriers and their substitutes to ensure compliance with legal work requirements.

Former immigration minister and current shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick previously warned that the substitution system was facilitating illegal migration and worker exploitation. He urged delivery firms to enhance their vetting procedures. In April last year, Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat pledged to tighten their worker verification policies, with stricter measures taking effect from August.

In October, police conducted a raid at a caravan site near Bristol, where dozens of undocumented delivery workers were residing. The operation led to 17 arrests, with 13 individuals placed in immigration detention. In January, The Telegraph reported that a private study suggested as many as one million illegal migrants might be working in the UK.

Earlier this month, Deliveroo informed MPs that it had dismissed over 100 workers whose substitutes failed to provide valid right-to-work documentation, making it the first company to implement tougher vetting standards.

Uber Eats has since confirmed to The Telegraph that thousands of its riders have been removed from the platform since the new rules were introduced last April.

A spokesperson for Uber Eats stated: “All couriers using the Uber Eats app, whether as the primary account holder or a substitute, must pass verification checks to confirm they are over 18 and have the legal right to work in the UK. If any courier is found violating our community guidelines, including engaging in unlawful or unsafe behavior, we take appropriate action, including permanently revoking access to the app.

“We continuously review and enhance our processes to ensure they remain as robust as possible.”