British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has recently announced in the Global Progress Action Summit
2025 that the government is planning to introduce a new system of digitised identity cards for all
workers and legal residents of the UK. The scheme has been carved to cater to the issue of illegal
immigration (the most recent being boat crossings from France to the UK). The conference has been
attended by various global leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Introducing the scheme, Starmer stated that “Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It
will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure. And it will also
offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like being able to prove your identity to access key services
swiftly – rather than hunting around for an old utility bill.”
What’s in the Digital Workers’ ID Mandate?
The new mandatory Digital ID Scheme for Workers will make it tougher to get work and stay in the
UK for illegal migrants. The issue of immigration remained a top concern of voters in Britain. Hence,
the initiative introduced constitutes the heart of ‘Plan for Change’.The government claims that the
digital ID will work as a pull factor to work and earn in the UK.
Senior minister Darren Paul Jones has called this scheme the bedrock of the modern state. The
scheme will be rolled out before the next general elections of 2029, by the end of Parliament. Making
it more feasible and accessible, a digital ID could be held in a phone like the NHS App, which is now
used for contactless payments. The system is designed to integrate government services like childcare,
welfare, driving licences and streamlining tax records at later stages. Reducing paperwork and
complicated identity checks. The initiative will extend face-to-face services for citizens, taking the
best aspects of the existing technologies around the world.
Data will be held and accessed in a structured, secure format. This scheme comes under the GOV.UK
digital wallet. Making knowledge and services available to technically challenged and less aware
citizens. At present, citizens of the UK use a driving licence, passport and National Insurance number
to prove their identity. Over time, various frauds and loopholes have been highlighted in the
existing system with special reference to the gig economy phenomenon.
The tracing and identification became flawed due to forgeries (use of a single national insurance
number by multiple workers). Therefore, a digital ID with a photo will minimise the risk to a large
extent. The inclusivity of the scheme will try to accommodate all concerns regarding services and
fraud.
The other side of the scheme tells a different stance
While the policy initiators and think tanks like Labour Together advocate the umbrella policy of ‘Brit
Card’. Scholars and civil liberty groups have raised discontent, citing the privacy breach and mass
surveillance concerns.
Pointing straight from the past experiences, the national identity card initiatives are seen as
traditional failures. As already witnessed during the term of Prime Minister Tony Blair in the 2000s,
the plan was dropped due to civil liberty concerns. The ambiguity remains as to what would be the case for
self-employed workers. Big Brother’s Watch (a civil liberty foundation) claims that the scheme will
push unauthorised migrants further into the shadows and exacerbate the social exclusion,
marginalisation, exploitation and poverty.
What possible effects it might have on Indian-Origin People
By the given data of the 2021 census, people of Indian origin account for nearly 3.1% of the total
population. The United Kingdom, with world-class top universities offering a wide range of courses,
thriving job opportunities for skilled workers and a quality life with better healthcare and other
services, has attracted many Indians over the years.
Currently, the number exceeds two million. Therefore, we must understand the possible
implications of this New Digital ID initiative on people of Indian ethnicity across the UK.
● Digitised identity may ensure a smoother transition from student to worker visa if their status
is recognised.
● Inherent capacity to reduce paper load and pass multiple security checks via one unified
identity.
● May simplify administrative steps of renewal or swapping across companies. If firms couldn’t
match up with the government’s plan, there is a possibility of rejection and delayed
employment.
● If digital ID doesn’t encompass all visa types, it will become a massive administrative riddle.
● As reiterated multiple times, it will ensure better health, education and child welfare, etc.
Some might face delays in effective public service delivery due to a highly centralised
structure.
However, amid rising discontent, the government has directed that it will soon conduct a public
consultation on the matter. In order to seek public approval and feedback from every section of the
society (including elderly and homeless).
References:
(2025, September 27).UK to mandate digital IDs for workers to curb illegal migration. The Times of
India.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/uk-to-mandate-digital-ids-for-workers-to-curb-illegal-mi
gration/articleshow/124169674.cms
Hagan R. (2025, September 29). What is the plan for digital IDs and will they be mandatory?BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyl3lzzed2o
Kozul-Wright, A., & News Agencies. (2025, September 29).Why is the UK introducing digital IDs –
and why are they so controversial? Al Jazeera.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/29/why-is-the-uk-introducing-digital-ids-and-why-are-they-s
o-controversial
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (n.d). Population of Overseas Indians. Retrieved
from https://share.google/hTfZ2iJlVxjk0zAFr
Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street, & Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP. ( 2025,
September 26). New Digital Id Scheme to be rolled out across the UK. GOV. UK.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-digital-id-scheme-to-be-rolled-out-across-uk
TOI World Desk. (2025, September 26). ‘Will make it tougher to work illegally’: UK to introduce
Digital ID for workers – How it will work. The Times of India.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/will-make-it-tougher-to-work-illegally-uk-to-introduce
digital-id-for-workers-how-it-will-work/articleshow/124154707.cms
Whannel K. (2025, September 26). New digital ID will be mandatory to work in the UK. BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn832y43ql5o
William J. (2025, September, 26). Britain to introduce compulsory digital ID for workers. Reuters.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-introduce-mandatory-digital-id-cards-2025-09-26/
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