Deliveroo and Uber Eats couriers are renting out their jobs to alleged 'illegal immigrants' online, an investigation has revealed. Drivers and couriers from both firms are advertising their jobs in private Facebook groups and not taking the necessary precautions in vetting who they sub-hire, found The Sunday Time's Kenza Bryan.
A whistle-blower told the journalist that 'illegal immigrants' are coming in from France, Belgium and Italy in lorries and 'renting other peoples' accounts.'
The companies allow couriers - who are self-employed - to sub-let their accounts to people, given they carry out the necessary checks on their substitute, but Deliveroo doesn't ask for confirmation that this happens.
Uber Eats asks for proof of right to work along with the substitute's driving license within 24 hours. They also say riders must inform restaurants of the change, if they can't verify a substitute's details within two weeks, they deactivate the account. This means that illegal immigrants could be working in the UK without the right to do so, not paying rent and not having faced a check on their criminal background.
Uber Eats said the right to a substitute is a legal requirement, Deliveroo said the reports of illegal riders working as couriers were 'alleged only' and 'completely unproven.'
