The British government has revealed that it has begun cracking down on migrants illegally working as food delivery riders, a move that could affect Kenyan workers employed by such companies.
According to a statement by the United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on July 23, the move aims to curb illegal employment in the country, especially among asylum seekers who are not legally permitted to work in the UK.
According to Starmer, the British government will work jointly with major delivery platforms to weed out riders working without proper authorization.
He asserted that the removal of illegal workers in the companies will be fundamental in ensuring fairness for British people in the country's job market, especially the food delivery industry.
"We’re cracking down on migrants working illegally as food delivery riders. We'll share asylum accommodation locations with Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats so they can take action if riders are staying there. We will do what it takes to ensure fairness for British people," Starmer said.
In the recent past, the UK government has introduced several strict guidelines for foreigners aspiring to work or live in the UK, restrictions that aim to ensure that there are higher skill standards for workers in the country.
In a statement on Monday, May 12, Starmer said that the UK government is in the process of introducing new digital IDs and eVisas for all foreign citizens to make it easier for law enforcement agencies to capture unlawful immigrants.
The UK, according to the PM, would also stiffen the English language requirements across the main immigration routes to ensure that any foreigner who wishes to work and live there is capable of speaking the language fluently.
In a bid to ensure that UK citizens are prioritized by employers during employment, the UK said that its government would increase the immigration skills charge, which is paid by employers when they onboard foreign workers.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister claimed that the UK government will enact new policies for people seeking asylum in the country, which include tighter visa controls, restrictions.
"Measures unveiled in the immigration white paper published today (Monday 12 May) will reshape our immigration system towards those who contribute most to economic growth, with higher skills standards for graduates and workers," he stated.
