The British government is moving to temporarily ease visa requirements in an effort to attract more foreign bus drivers, as it faces increasing issues due to a shortage of drivers that has led to fuel supply shortages, according to the Washington Post. Authorities may issue up to 5,000 temporary visas under a short-term program for truck drivers, and 5,500 for poultry workers until Christmas Eve. This decision represents a reversal in Prime Minister Boris Johnson's stance, as his government had tightened immigration laws following Brexit and repeatedly affirmed that Britain's reliance on foreign labor needed to end. Officials stated that they want to develop the domestic workforce and increase investment in technology.
The shortage of fuel tanker drivers has resulted in long queues at petrol stations in recent days, as citizens ignored government calls not to rush to buy gasoline after some stations closed due to supply shortages. British Petroleum reported that approximately 30% of their 1,200 locations in the UK ran out of the two main grades of fuel by Sunday. The Petrol Retailers Association, which represents around 5,500 independent outlets, announced that about two-thirds of its members reported selling out of fuel, while others indicated their stock was "partially depleted and would soon run out."
Britain has also begun suffering from supply chain shortages, with some supermarkets out of goods, and restaurant chains like McDonald's and KFC missing certain items from their menus. The Road Haulage Association estimates the country needs about 100,000 drivers. For months, businesses have warned of labor shortages across the economy and urged the government to relax its rules for certain sectors to facilitate the hiring of workers from the EU.
Roger Gheel, a Conservative MP, told Times Radio that the new visas are a good start, but not enough. He added, "It's not just about truck drivers. There is a problem with agricultural workers and fruit pickers." He continued, "Thanet Earth, the largest greenhouse complex in the country, based in his constituency, had to dispose of $410,000 worth of tomatoes because there was no one to pick them."
For its part, the government has urged retired drivers to help alleviate the shortage, and stated that the military will assist in testing new drivers. Some have questioned whether foreign workers will come to the UK for just a few months only to be sent back home before Christmas. Marco Digioia, president of the European Road Transport Association, told the Observer: "There is a shortage of drivers across Europe. I'm not sure how many want to go to the UK." Industry groups in Britain say that Brexit has exacerbated the labor shortage due to difficulties in hiring from the EU, along with the COVID pandemic, as some foreign workers returned to their home countries.
