Consultation on extending legislation to prevent illegal working (the Right to Work Scheme) to other working arrangements
This Home Office consultation is now live.
It is open to businesses across the UK and seeks views on how the checks should be implemented in the wider labour market (gig economy, zero hours, flexible working arrangements).
This consultation seeks 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
This will give businesses the opportunity to help shape the guidance and the statutory codes of practice. These underpin the right to work checks that will be required to confirm that individuals have the right to work in the UK.
The new laws, announced in March 2025, will mean businesses hiring people in the gig economy will now legally be required to carry out checks confirming that anyone working in their name is eligible to work in the UK, bringing them in line with other employers.
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.
The consultation will close at 23:59 on Wednesday 10 December.
For information on how to participate visit:
Home Office
PAYadvice.UK 29/10/2025