26th June 2026 | Hudson Contract
Hudson Contract has thanked clients and subbies after carrying out more than 12,500 Right to Work checks ahead of new Home Office legislation expected to kick in later this year.
The government has indicated that checks for the self-employed are to become a legal requirement from October 1 as part of its crackdown on illegal working.
Hudson has been contacting operatives to arrange Home Office-compliant Right to Work checks ahead of the implementation date. The two-step process takes place online or in-person over video call, and can be completed within minutes.
Employers or engagers who fail to carry out Right-to-Work checks face penalties of up to £60,000 per operative. In serious cases, sanctions escalate to criminal conviction, a prison sentence of up to five years and an unlimited fine.
Hudson managing director Ian Anfield said: “We’d like to thank our clients and subbies for all their help so far – it’s much appreciated.
“We've already completed more than 12,500 checks with thousands more at various stages of the process and we’ll have completed the exercise by the time enforcement begins.
“The industry is still waiting for clear guidance from the government on some of the finer details, but in the meantime our default position is to carry out a full Right to Work check in line with those required for full employment.”
Commenting on the process, Ian added: “There is some reluctance among British passport holders to carry out the checks. They don’t trust the government with their data and they don't see why they should have to comply when they're born and bred in this country. Suddenly they have to prove they've got the right to get a job, earn a living, feed their families and pay tax.
“And there's a surprising number of people who have never left the country, so they don't hold a passport, and they can't find the birth certificate that was issued to them 30, 40 or 50 years ago.
“While we sympathise entirely, the only piece of concrete guidance issued by government so far is that the checks must be applied equally and not discriminate. That means we have no choice but to check everyone on our payroll, British-born or not.”
