Opportunity or an obstacle? | Digital ID plans raise questions for employers as government targets illegal working

The UK Government has announced plans to roll out a national digital ID scheme, making it mandatory for Right to Work checks by the end of the Parliament. Ministers say the move will help combat illegal working, strengthen border security and simplify identity verification for citizens.

The announcement, however, has sparked debate among employment law experts about the scheme’s impact on HR processes and its effectiveness in tackling exploitation in the labour market.