Faced with a shortage of gasoline and agricultural products, the government announced that it will issue more than 10,000 temporary visas to European workers, half of which are truck drivers. As the Christmas holiday approaches, people’s fears are getting bigger and bigger.
The British government said on Saturday (September 25) that in response to the labor shortage, the UK will issue up to 10,500 temporary work visas, half of which are for truck drivers. The unexpected shift in immigration after Brexit.
These three-month permits from October to December should make up for the apparent shortage of truck drivers, as well as the shortage of personnel in key sectors of the country’s economy (such as poultry farms).
British Transport Minister Grant Sharps on Sunday called on his compatriots to “behave normally” when buying gasoline to ensure that there is no shortage of fuel, and the government is working to solve the delivery problem related to the lack of truck drivers.
In recent days, despite the government’s appeal not to panic, the shortage of goods has also affected the shelves of agricultural products, and gas stations have been swept by storms. So far, the government has not responded to calls urging it to deploy troops to help distribute fuel.
Thousands of heavy vehicle license plates will be issued in the coming weeks
This decision to reopen the floodgates of professional immigration runs counter to the line defended by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. His government continues to insist that Britain no longer depends on labor and foreign jobs.
Over the past few months, despite warnings from many economic agencies that there is an estimated shortage of 100,000 truck drivers, the government has tried to avoid this situation.
The Minister of Transport emphasized that in addition to these work visas, other special measures should ensure the supply before the Christmas holiday.
In the next few weeks, inspectors from the Department of Defense will be mobilized to pass thousands of heavy vehicle permits.
The Ministry of Education and its partner agencies will speed up the pace by setting up training camps, freeing up millions of pounds to train 4,000 truck drivers.
As Christmas approaches, many visas are considered “insufficient”
Grant Shapps also called on employers to “retain new drivers by continuing to improve working conditions and wages” to play this game.
Under pressure, the government will defeat the recall of all HGV license holders: a million letters must be sent out asking those who do not drive to return to work.
However, Ruby McGregor-Smith, President of the British Chamber of Commerce, believes that the number of visas is “not enough” and “not enough to solve a problem of this scale.” “This advertisement is like trying to put out a campfire with a glass of water,” she said.
For weeks and even months, factories, restaurants, and supermarkets have been affected by a shortage of truck drivers. Frozen food group Iceland and retail company Tesco have warned that there will be shortages before Christmas.
Fast food chain McDonald’s ran out of milkshakes and drinks last month. Competitor KFC was forced to remove items from the menu, and the Nando chain temporarily closed dozens of restaurants due to lack of chicken.
AFP and Reuters