This archive report was first published on 26 September 2021.
Britain is facing a severe worker shortage, with a huge shortfall in drivers and other key workers affecting fuel supplies and various industries. To address this issue, the government has announced a reversal of its post-Brexit immigration policy, offering up to 10,500 temporary work visas to lorry drivers and poultry workers.
According to the government, the short-term visas will be available from next month until late December. This move comes as ministers grapple with the consequences of a tanker drivers shortage, which has caused large queues at petrol stations in recent days.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government had previously tightened post-Brexit immigration rules, insisting that Britain's reliance on foreign labour must end. However, despite an estimated shortage of around 100,000 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers and warnings from various sectors, the government had resisted the move for months.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has insisted that the government is taking action 'at the earliest opportunity' to address the shortage. He added that a broader package of measures announced would ensure pre-Christmas preparations 'remain on track'. However, one business leader has dismissed the new measures as inadequate.
As part of the measures, the government will deploy Ministry of Defence driving examiners to help provide thousands of extra tests over the next 12 weeks. The education ministry and partner agencies will also spend millions of pounds training 4,000 people to become HGV drivers, creating new 'skills bootcamps' to speed up the process.
Meanwhile, nearly 1 million letters will be sent to all drivers who currently hold an HGV licence, asking any not currently driving to come back to work. The government has been under increasing pressure to act, after the pandemic and Brexit combined to worsen the haulier shortage and other crises emerged.
As well as threatening timely fuel supplies, the lack of lorry drivers has hit British factories, restaurants, and supermarkets in recent weeks and months. US burger chain McDonald's ran out of milkshakes and bottled drinks last month, fast-food giant KFC was forced to remove some items from its menu, while restaurant chain Nando's temporarily shut dozens of outlets due to a lack of chicken.
