Asylum Seekers Working Illegally as Couriers to Repay Smugglers

Asylum seekers housed in UK Home Office-funded hotels are working illegally as couriers for food delivery services to pay off debts owed to people smugglers. A recent investigation has uncovered cases of migrants earning up to £500 a week by using platforms such as Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats.

Many of these migrants, prohibited from working due to their immigration status, have turned to the gig economy to send money back home. These earnings are often used to settle loans taken to fund their perilous journeys across the English Channel, arranged by organised criminal networks. Some families even consider these loans an investment, expecting to recover the funds once their relatives find work in the UK.

People smugglers frequently promote the UK as an “ideal” destination for migrants, citing governmental provisions like free accommodation and the ease of employment in the gig economy. One Istanbul-based smuggler claimed all one needs in the UK to earn a good income is “a mobile phone and a bike,” emphasising the simplicity of finding work as a courier.

To circumvent identity and work checks required by delivery platforms, migrants often rely on black-market accounts. These accounts, which are rented for £75 to £100 a week, allow them to operate. Couriers also share and modify e-bikes, many of which exceed legal speed limits, in what appears to be an informal bike sharing network among asylum seekers.

The rise in such activities highlights how some migrants feel pressured to work illicitly. Many face mounting debts from their journeys and financial demands from families expecting remittances. Some individuals report experiencing depression or mental strain from both the debts and the realities of life in government-funded accommodation. Others resort to illegal courier work simply to avoid idleness while their asylum cases remain unresolved.

The government has pledged stricter enforcement to tackle illegal working, with officials urging delivery companies to strengthen checks. These companies, including Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats, have already begun adopting measures such as biometric verification and real-time identity checks. However, despite these efforts, the availability of substitute accounts and other workarounds continues to pose challenges to ensuring compliance.

The emergence of this shadow economy not only complicates efforts to regulate immigration but also raises questions about fair competition in the gig economy and the ethical responsibilities of businesses operating in this space.