Right To Work Changes From October 2026: Are Construction Businesses Ready?

The UK’s right to work regime is set to undergo a significant expansion from 1 October 2026. Changes introduced by the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, together with the Home Office’s draft Code of Practice on Preventing Illegal Working published on 30 June 2026, indicate a widening of the circumstances in which organisations may be held responsible for preventing illegal working. For construction businesses that rely on subcontractors, labour suppliers, and complex supply chains, the changes could have significant practical implications.

Why construction could be particularly affected

On most construction projects, workers arrive on site through a complex chain of contractors, subcontractors, labour providers, and recruitment agencies. Yet right to work compliance often receives little attention until a problem arises.