Reform UK proposes ‘Turkish barber tip line’ to tackle illegal employment
Reform UK has unveiled plans to create a so-called ‘Turkish barber tip line’ in an effort to crack down on businesses employing illegal migrant workers, reports BritPanorama.
The pledge, announced by Reform UK’s home office spokesperson Zia Yusuf, will encourage members of the public to contact authorities if they suspect any business is violating employment laws.
This initiative arrives amid broader measures to address illegal employment practices, ensuring that police and trading standards follow up on credible tips received from the public.
Labour has accused the party of attempting to “distract the public” from continuous financial scandals involving its leadership. Labour party chair Bridget Phillipson stated, “This is Reform’s latest desperate attempt to deflect attention from the ever-growing catalogue of scandals engulfing Nigel Farage and his party.”
Yusuf asserted that a Reform government would establish a central prosecution fund managed by the Home Office to enforce action against businesses, though how the tip line would operate remains unclear.
He also stated that tips leading to successful enforcement actions would yield financial rewards from a portion of penalties levied against businesses. The specifics of these rewards are yet to be detailed in forthcoming legislation.
Charging Labour and the Conservatives with having “effectively decriminalised illegal working in the United Kingdom,” Yusuf claimed, “under a Reform government, this betrayal ends.” He promised to introduce stringent penalties for those who employ illegal workers.
The proposed measures suggest that employers will remain accountable, facing fines equal to 10% of their global revenues and potential jail time, irrespective of their knowledge regarding a worker’s immigration status.
Current legislation imposes fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker on businesses failing to conduct appropriate checks. Reform’s announcement follows a government crackdown on illegal working in the delivery sector. Earlier this year, security minister Dan Jarvis urged Britons to report any suspicious activities, particularly those involving barbers, stating, “Where people see activity that they think is suspicious, that absolutely should be reported.”
In conjunction with this initiative, Yusuf referenced additional proposals, including making it illegal to use a vehicle for business without possessing a full British licence, although this excludes lorry drivers delivering to the UK from other countries.
Reacting to the initiative, dubbed the ‘Deliveroo law,’ a spokesperson for Deliveroo stated that addressing illegal working is essential. The company has endeavored to combat such issues by conducting right to work checks and implementing identity verification technology.
The Home Office previously announced the arrest of 10 Evri workers under strict immigration bail conditions while further investigations were conducted. It aims to close loopholes by extending right to work checks to the gig economy and delivery sectors, with significant penalties for non-compliance.
Records indicate that visits and arrests related to illegal working have surged, with over 12,791 visits occurring in 2025, reflecting a 57% increase from the previous year, impacting various businesses including nail bars and takeaway shops. This evolving situation underscores the complexities inherent in balancing immigration control with business operations in the UK.
