Key Takeaways
• Over 37,000 small boat migrants crossed to the UK in 2024, with many working illegally as delivery riders.
• 40% of delivery drivers stopped in 2023 checks were found working without legal rights to work.
• Delivery accounts are rented for £75-£100 weekly, enabling migrants to earn up to £1,000 a week illegally.
Recent investigations have revealed that small boat migrants arriving in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 are quickly finding illegal work as delivery riders, sometimes within just hours of landing. These jobs, often with popular gig economy companies like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats, can pay up to £500 a week, with some reports suggesting that a few individuals earn as much as £1,000 a week. This rapid entry into the delivery sector is raising serious questions about immigration enforcement, the structure of gig economy work, and the risks faced by migrants and the wider community.
Who Are the Small Boat Migrants and What’s Happening?
Small boat migrants are people who cross the English Channel from France to the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 in small, often unsafe boats. Many of these migrants seek asylum, hoping for protection and a better life. However, the UK government classifies these arrivals as illegal migrants, and most are not allowed to work while their asylum claims are processed.
Despite this, a growing number of these migrants are finding work as delivery riders. According to a May 2025 investigation by The Telegraph, many asylum seekers living in hotels paid for by the Home Office are working illegally as bike couriers for food and grocery delivery services. These jobs are not only easy to access but also pay well compared to other informal work options.
How Do Migrants Get Delivery Rider Jobs So Quickly?
The process is surprisingly fast and simple, thanks to the structure of the gig economy and informal networks among migrants. Here’s how it typically works:
- Arrival in the UK 🇬🇧: Migrants cross the Channel, usually in small boats, and are placed in hotels by the Home Office while their asylum claims are considered.
- Finding Work: Within hours or days, many connect with others who help them rent or borrow delivery rider accounts. These accounts, which are needed to work for companies like Deliveroo or Just Eat, are often rented on the black market for £75-£100 per week.
- Getting Equipment: Migrants use borrowed or shared bikes, sometimes electric bikes, to start delivering food and groceries.
- Earning Money: They can make up to £500 a week, with some claiming to earn as much as £1,000 a week. Much of this money is sent back home to repay debts to people smugglers who arranged their journey.
- Continuing Despite Risks: Even though working is illegal for most asylum seekers, many continue because they need to survive and pay off debts, despite the risk of being caught or exploited.
Why Is This Happening?
Several factors make it easy for small boat migrants to enter delivery rider jobs in the UK 🇬🇧:
- Gig Economy Structure: Delivery companies treat riders as self-employed, which means there is less oversight and fewer checks on immigration status. This makes it easier for people without the right to work to slip through the cracks.
- Account Rentals: There is a thriving black market for delivery rider accounts. Migrants can rent these accounts from people who have the legal right to work, making it hard for companies and authorities to track who is actually making deliveries.
- High Demand for Riders: The gig economy is always looking for more riders, especially in big cities. This demand makes it easier for new arrivals to find work quickly.
- Debt and Pressure: Many migrants owe large sums to people smugglers. The need to repay these debts pushes them to find work as soon as possible, even if it means breaking the law.
The Scale of the Problem
The number of small boat migrants entering the UK 🇬🇧 has grown sharply. In 2024, over 37,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats, a 25% increase from the previous year. By mid-June 2025, more than 15,000 had already arrived, with some days seeing up to 400 boats attempting the crossing.
The Home Office found in 2023 that 40% of delivery drivers stopped during random checks were working illegally. This shows just how widespread the problem is in the gig economy.
The Role of Delivery Companies
Companies like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats have faced criticism for not doing enough to check the immigration status of their riders. While these companies say they follow the law and require proof of the right to work, the reality is that many accounts are rented or shared illegally. This makes it very difficult for companies to know who is actually making the deliveries.
Some delivery companies have started to tighten their checks, but the self-employed nature of the work and the use of rented accounts make enforcement challenging.
The Government’s Response
The UK 🇬🇧 government, through the Home Office, is responsible for border enforcement and processing asylum claims. The government continues to classify small boat arrivals as illegal migrants and focuses on border control and deportation where possible.
However, enforcement of illegal work in the gig economy is difficult. The self-employed status of delivery riders means there are fewer checks, and the use of rented accounts makes it hard to catch those working illegally. The Home Office does conduct random checks, but these are not enough to stop the problem.
The government also provides accommodation for asylum seekers in hotels. While this is meant to offer temporary shelter, it has unintentionally made it easier for migrants to connect with informal work networks and quickly find delivery jobs.
For more information on the UK 🇬🇧 government’s official stance and policies on immigration and asylum, you can visit the UK Home Office’s official immigration page.
Risks and Exploitation
Migrants working illegally as delivery riders face many risks:
- Exploitation: Renting a delivery account can cost £75-£100 per week, a large sum for people already in debt. Some migrants are forced to work long hours under poor conditions to make enough money.
- Legal Penalties: If caught, migrants can face arrest, detention, and possible deportation. They may also lose their chance to have their asylum claim approved.
- Dangerous Work: Delivery riders often work in busy cities, sometimes late at night or in bad weather, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Pressure from Smugglers: Many migrants feel pressure to send money home to repay the people who helped them cross the Channel. This can lead to further exploitation and stress.
Impact on Stakeholders
Migrants
For small boat migrants, delivery rider jobs offer a way to survive and support families back home. However, the work is risky and often exploitative. Many migrants feel they have no other choice, especially if they owe money to smugglers.
Delivery Companies
Companies like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats face criticism for not doing enough to stop illegal work. They risk damage to their reputation and possible legal action if found to be employing people without the right to work.
The Government
The UK 🇬🇧 government faces a difficult task. On one hand, it wants to control illegal immigration and enforce the law. On the other hand, it must ensure that migrants are not exploited and that the gig economy operates fairly.
Local Authorities and Law Enforcement
Local councils and police struggle to enforce the law because of the self-employed status of delivery riders and the secretive nature of account rentals. Random checks catch some illegal workers, but many slip through the net.
Advocacy Groups
Groups that support migrants warn that the current system puts people at risk of exploitation. They call for better legal pathways for asylum seekers to work and for stronger protections against abuse.
The Cycle of Debt and Work
A key reason why small boat migrants take delivery rider jobs is debt. Many pay large sums to people smugglers to cross the Channel. Once in the UK 🇬🇧, they feel pressure to send money home to repay these debts. This creates a cycle:
- Arrive in the UK 🇬🇧 owing money
- Find illegal work as a delivery rider
- Send earnings home to pay off debt
- Continue working despite risks and exploitation
This cycle is hard to break without changes to immigration and labor laws.
The Gig Economy’s Role
The gig economy has grown rapidly in the UK 🇬🇧, offering flexible work to thousands of people. However, its structure makes it easy for people without the right to work to find jobs. The use of self-employed contractors means companies have less responsibility for checking immigration status.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the gig economy’s flexibility and lack of oversight have created loopholes that allow illegal workers to operate with relative ease. This not only undermines immigration controls but also puts migrants at risk of exploitation.
Policy Implications and Future Outlook
The rapid employment of small boat migrants in delivery jobs has several important effects:
- Undermines Immigration Controls: If migrants can quickly find work, it may encourage more people to make the dangerous journey across the Channel.
- Exposes Migrants to Exploitation: Without legal protections, migrants are at risk of abuse by those who rent out accounts or demand high fees.
- Challenges for Enforcement: The gig economy’s structure makes it hard for authorities to catch illegal workers.
- Pressure on Public Services: Large numbers of new arrivals put pressure on housing, health care, and other services.
Looking ahead, the UK 🇬🇧 government may introduce tighter rules for gig economy companies, increase checks on delivery riders, and review its policy on asylum seeker accommodation. There is also ongoing debate about whether to allow asylum seekers to work legally while their claims are processed, which could reduce illegal work and exploitation.
Multiple Perspectives
- Government: Focuses on border security and enforcement but faces real challenges in stopping illegal work.
- Delivery Companies: Say they follow the law but struggle to stop account rentals and illegal work.
- Migrants: Need to survive and repay debts, often risking legal trouble and exploitation.
- Public Opinion: Divided between concerns about illegal immigration and sympathy for migrants’ difficult situations.
Historical Context
Small boat crossings have increased since 2018, as other routes to the UK 🇬🇧 have become harder to use. Smuggling gangs have become more organized, and the growth of the gig economy has made it easier for new arrivals to find informal work. The Home Office’s policy of housing asylum seekers in hotels has, perhaps unintentionally, created hubs where migrants can quickly connect with work networks.
What Can Be Done?
Experts suggest several possible solutions:
- Better Checks by Delivery Companies: Stronger vetting of riders’ immigration status and more checks on account sharing.
- Legal Work Pathways: Allowing asylum seekers to work legally could reduce illegal work and exploitation.
- Stronger Enforcement: More random checks and penalties for those who rent out accounts illegally.
- Support for Migrants: More help for new arrivals to find legal work and avoid exploitation.
Practical Guidance for Migrants and Employers
- Migrants: Be aware that working without the right to work is illegal and can harm your asylum claim. Seek advice from legal support groups and avoid renting accounts from others.
- Employers and Delivery Companies: Regularly check the immigration status of riders and take action against account sharing.
- Advocacy Groups: Continue to push for fair treatment and legal work options for asylum seekers.
Official Resources
For the latest information on immigration and asylum policies, visit the UK Home Office’s official immigration page. This site provides up-to-date guidance on asylum claims, right to work checks, and enforcement actions.
Conclusion
The rapid entry of small boat migrants into delivery rider jobs in the UK 🇬🇧 highlights the complex links between immigration, the gig economy, and enforcement challenges. While these jobs offer a lifeline to many migrants, they also expose them to risks and exploitation. The government, delivery companies, and advocacy groups all have a role to play in finding solutions that protect migrants and uphold the law. As the debate continues, the need for clear policies and fair treatment for all remains as important as ever.
Learn Today
Small Boat Migrants → Individuals crossing the English Channel in small boats to seek asylum in the UK illegally.
Gig Economy → A labor market with flexible, short-term, self-employed jobs, often with less oversight on workers.
Delivery Rider Accounts → User accounts rented or shared on the black market, enabling illegal work in delivery jobs.
Home Office → UK government agency responsible for border enforcement, asylum claims, and immigration policies.
People Smugglers → Individuals or groups who illegally transport migrants across borders, often for large fees.
This Article in a Nutshell
Small boat migrants in the UK quickly find illegal delivery rider jobs, earning up to £1,000 weekly. Gig economy loopholes and rented accounts fuel this trend, raising enforcement challenges and migrant exploitation risks amid rising Channel crossings in 2024 and 2025.
— By VisaVerge.com
