Extending the Right to Work Scheme
- From:
- Home Office, Immigration Enforcement and Alex Norris MP
- Published
- 29 October 2025
- Last updated
- 30 June 2026 — See all updates
Read the full outcome
Prevention of illegal working: Extending the Right to Work Scheme to other working arrangements: government response
PDF, 622 KB, 48 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
Detail of outcome
The government is grateful to all those who responded to this consultation. The views and evidence submitted have been carefully considered and have informed the government’s final policy position.
Consideration has been given to the quantitative responses to the consultation along with the qualitative responses provided online, by email and during discussion with stakeholders. The government has set out its views on the proposals, including where there is intention to adopt them or where they already exist.
The government will continue to explore appropriate measures in relation to directors and partners of limited liability businesses in the event that businesses evade payment of civil penalties for the employment of illegal migrant workers.
The government will work to ensure processes are clear, streamlined and robust with guidance for employers alongside additional support for employers implementing right to work checks as a result of the changes.
Original consultation
Summary
The government is consulting with employers on extending right to work checks to the 'gig economy' to prevent illegal working.
This consultation closesran atfrom
to
Consultation description
Through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration BillAct 2025, the government is strengthening enforcement of the rules to clamp down on illegal working.
This means that for the first time, the requirement to carry out right to work checks will be extended to cover businesses hiring ‘gig economy’ and zero-hours workers in sectors like construction, food delivery, beauty salons, courier services and warehousing.
This consultation seekssought views on:
- how this change should be operationalised and enforced
- how processes can be simplified to make it easier for employers to fulfil their responsibilities
ThisWe willare giveaware businessesthese thedocuments opportunitymay tohave helpaccessibility shapeissues. theWe guidanceare andreviewing theit statutoryso codes of practice. These underpin the right to work checks that willwe becan requiredfix tothese.
Read confirmmore thatabout individualsour accessible havedocuments the right to work in the UK.policy.
Documents
Extending the Right to Work Scheme to other working arrangements: consultation questions
ODT, 33.7 KB
This file is in an OpenDocument format
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
Ways to respond
Share this page
The following links open in a new tab
Updates to this page
-
Added the government response to the consultation.
-
First published.
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-06-30 16:45
Added the government response to the consultation.
2025-10-29 10:48
First published.