Digital ID will no longer be mandatory work requirement

The government has dropped plans to make it a mandatory requirement for workers to sign up for digital ID to prove their right to work in the UK.

When Prime Minister Keir Starmer introduced digital ID last September as a way to crack down on immigrants working illegally, he said: "You will not be able to work in the UK if you do not have a digital ID. It's as simple as that."

Under revised plans, right-to-work checks will be done digitally by 2029, but registering for the new digital ID programme will be optional. A consultation on how digital IDs will work will be launched shortly.

Almost three million people signed a parliamentary petition opposing their introduction. It is understood the new scheme will focus more on making it easier to access public services than on right-to-work verification.

It will be based on government systems known as Gov.uk One Login and Gov.uk wallet. The latter, which is yet to be launched, will enable people to store their digital ID in their phone wallet.

A government spokesperson said: "We are committed to mandatory digital right-to-work checks.

"Currently, right-to-work checks include a hodgepodge of paper-based systems with no record of checks ever taking place. This is open to fraud and abuse.

"Digital ID will make everyday life easier for people, ensuring public services are more personal, joined-up, and effective, while also remaining inclusive."

When the scheme was first announced, immigration experts questioned whether mandatory digital ID cards would stop illegal working.

Oliver O'Sullivan, director of Immigration at immigration law firm Migrate UK, said: "Will digital ID cards reduce illegal working? Not if the main reason for illegal working is employers knowingly hiring a person without permission to work, or not doing the right checks in the first place. Right-to-work checks aren't failing because of the documents involved."

The government introduced digital identity checks for right-to-work in 2022. Prospective employees must now show a biometric passport, biometric residence permit or other digital status via a share code to allow employers to verify their status.