Reform UK has announced plans to impose prison sentences on bosses and fine companies 10% of their global revenues if they employ illegal migrant workers. The proposals, unveiled on Wednesday, would hold employers accountable even if they were unaware of a worker's immigration status.
Harshest penalties in the world
Reform's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf stated: “Under a Reform government, Britain will have the harshest penalties in the world for employing illegal migrants. Bosses of companies employing illegal migrants will be sent to prison, and their companies fined 10% of their global revenues. There are companies whose entire business model is based on profiting from illegal working.”
Yusuf added: “The Tories and Labour have made Britain the softest-touch country in the world for illegal migrants to undercut British workers. There are companies whose entire business model is based on profiteering from illegal working. It is a slap in the face to the public. It makes a mockery of our immigration laws, takes jobs from British workers and is funding the people smugglers in the Channel.”
Turkish barber tip line
Yusuf is also set to outline plans for a 'Turkish Barbers tip line', which would allow and incentivise the public to report suspicious high street shops or illegal working.
The announcement follows a Government crackdown on illegal working in the delivery sector. Last year, a Daily Express investigation uncovered asylum seekers working across London as delivery drivers for major companies. Firms such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat subsequently said they would tighten processes to stop account sharing.
Industry response
A Deliveroo spokesman said: "Illegal working should absolutely be addressed, and that's why we've led the industry in cracking down on the sophisticated, organised criminals who attempt to abuse our platform. We run Right to Work checks on all riders, conduct multiple daily identity checks and use cutting-edge fraud-detection technology, and we'd encourage other industries affected by illegal working to do the same."
Under current legislation, businesses employing someone without the right to work face fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker. The Home Office announced in July that it had arrested 10 Evri workers on immigration bail. Figures from January showed 12,791 visits and arrests linked to illegal working in 2025, up 57% from 8,122 the previous year.
Government response
A Home Office spokesperson said: "Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime. We are already closing the loopholes that allow illegal migrants to work in the UK by extending right-to-work checks to the gig economy and delivery sector. Employers who break the law face severe consequences, including fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker, business closures, licence revocations and prison sentences of up to five years."
