Illegal working enforcement: the reality behind the headlines for employers

By Sarah Croft | June 10, 2025 | Compliance, News, Right to Work

You’ve probably seen the headlines about the recent illegal working ‘crackdown’. The government is stepping up immigration enforcement, with sectors like construction, hospitality, and care often in the spotlight.

But here’s the reality: even if your business doesn’t fall into these so-called high-risk sectors, Right to Work (RtW) compliance is something you can’t afford to ignore. The government’s drive is broadening — and the risks of non-compliance are rising across every industry.

In this blog, we take a closer look at what’s happening and why it matters to every UK employer.

The headlines may be sector-focused — but enforcement is growing

You don’t have to look far to see the impact of this enforcement push:

• Construction: 36 arrests in a single day on a Belfast construction site.
  Lesson? If you employ site-based workers, your checks need to be watertight.
• Gig economy: 9 delivery drivers arrested in Surrey.
  Lesson? Informal hiring routes won’t protect you — the gig economy is firmly on the radar.
• Subcontracting: 16 arrests on an Anglesey solar farm — even though the workers were employed by a subcontractor.
  Lesson? It’s important to be conscious of compliance throughout your supply chain.
• Seasonal work: 6 people arrested on a Welsh dairy farm.
  Lesson? Seasonal roles also carry real risks.

And those are just the cases that made headlines. Behind the scenes, the numbers tell an even bigger story:

• 9,000+ enforcement visits to UK businesses in the past year
• 6,400+ arrests for illegal working — a 51% year-on-year increase
• 1,000+ arrests in Wales and South-West England — a 114% jump
• 48% rise in arrests in Northern Ireland

To make matters more complex, new legislation is expanding RtW checks into the gig economy and zero-hours roles. The bottom line? No employer is “off the radar” anymore.

Why now? What’s driving this crackdown?

Several factors are pushing RtW enforcement up the government’s agenda:

• Protecting vulnerable workers
  Many people working illegally are vulnerable to exploitation — poor pay, long hours, unsafe conditions, and no protection. Enforcement aims to stamp this out.
• Disrupting criminal networks
  Illegal working is often linked to organised crime and smuggling operations. The government is focused on breaking these networks.
• Restoring public confidence
  Immigration remains a hot political topic. Visible enforcement reassures the public that illegal working isn’t being ignored.
• Driving employer accountability
  The message from the government is clear: if you’re not running robust RtW checks, you’re taking a risk — and enforcement action could follow.

If you’re not an ‘unscrupulous employer’ — why should you worry?

The government often talks about cracking down on “unscrupulous employers” — those who:

• Skip RtW checks altogether
• Knowingly hire workers without the legal right to work in the UK
• Exploit staff with poor conditions or illegal hours
• Turn a blind eye to missing or ineligible documentation

But here’s the reality: even well-intentioned businesses can be targeted by fraudsters. Our customers have seen it first-hand. One long-standing customer in the security sector has been using TrustID since 2016 in a drive to support compliance across multiple remote sites. Recently they identified their first fraudulent document — a British passport that had been fraudulently altered. Without our system in place, they could easily have hired the individual — exposing themselves to significant risk despite having no ill intent.

If your RtW processes are inconsistent, outdated, or poorly documented, you could easily fall foul of fraudulent applicants.

Why manual Right to Work checks aren’t enough anymore

Employers can choose to make manual or digital checks, depending on their hiring processes and the documents which their employees present. However, manual RtW checks are increasingly hard to manage — especially if you’re hiring at scale or across multiple locations.

Common pitfalls include:

• Inconsistent checks across remote teams
• Missing or incomplete paper records
• Gaps in checking remote, gig, or flexible workers
• No clear audit trail to support an enforcement visit
• Onboarding delays that frustrate both HR and candidates

How digital Right to Work solutions help

Digital verification solutions like those provided by TrustID can make all the difference:

• Instant identity verification — ideal for remote, gig, or subcontracted workers
• Secure, auditable records — ready for any enforcement visit
• Faster onboarding — helping you stay competitive in hiring
• Compliance that keeps pace with Home Office guidance
• Reduced admin for HR and compliance teams

Put simply: technology is a smart way to protect your business and your reputation. And  TrustID can help.

Here are some helpful resources to get you started:

A guide to Right to Work checks

A guide to IDSPs and IDVT

Navigating identity validation: how HR teams can streamline digital compliance

Contact us — we’re always happy to chat about your needs

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