16/11/2023

Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat face government scrutiny as calls to end unchecked account sharing fall on deaf ears.

Takeaway firms, including Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat, are under fire from the government for their continued neglect of the unchecked account sharing issue. The government, led by Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, is pressing these companies to implement overdue controls and end the risky practice of substitutions.

In a letter addressed to major takeaway firms, Minister Jenrick emphasises the urgent need to halt the practice of unchecked account sharing, known as ‘substitutions.’ This loophole allows delivery drivers, who remain unchecked by the companies, to substitute deliveries to multiple individuals. Consequently, customers are left in the dark about the vetting process, raising concerns about public safety and the legality of the workforce.

Minister Jenrick articulates the gravity of the situation, stating, “Unchecked account sharing places the public at risk, enables – and therefore encourages – illegal migration, and leads to the exploitation of workers. That’s why I’m calling on these companies to end the use of unverified substitution.”

The government’s plea includes a call for takeaway firms to adopt stricter vetting measures, ensuring that delivery representatives are authorized to work in the UK and free from any dangerous criminal record.

The government should have acted on this far sooner, it’s not exactly a secret that illegal immigrants work as takeaway drivers. This delayed response to an issue that should have been addressed years ago is just another example of Tory failures.

In the midst of this, Immigration Enforcement teams claim to have intensified efforts, conducting over 250 enforcement visits and making more than 380 arrests involving food delivery drivers this year alone.

The question remains: Will this be enough to push these companies to finally implement the necessary changes?

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