Uttara J Malhotra 
United kingdom extends visa for migrant workers
United Kingdom(UK)– United Kingdom government announced that 5,000 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers and 5,500 poultry workers have been added to the existing visa scheme until Christmas 2021 to ease supply chain pressures in food and haulage industries during exceptional circumstances this year.
They further added that up to 4,000 people will be trained as new HGV drivers to tackle skills shortages and support more people to launch careers within the logistics sector. Along with it even 1 million letters will be sent to all drivers who hold an HGV license. This will encourage them back into the industry.
The United Kingdom’s Road Haulage Association (RHA) says Britain needs 100,000 more drivers to meet demand. The driver shortage has been caused partly by Brexit and Covid-19, and the loss of about a year of driver training and testing. Grant Shapps, who is the Transport Secretary added that this government continues to do everything we can to help the haulage and food industries contend with the HGV driver shortage.
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Shapps called on the industry to play its part with working conditions and the deserved salary increases continuing to be maintained in order for companies to retain new drivers.
Adding to it, Ian Wright, who is the Food and Drink Federation’s Chief Executive mentioned that his organization welcomed United Kingdom government’s pragmatic decision to temporarily add HGV drivers and poultry workers to the visa scheme. This is something United Kingdom(UK) food and drink manufacturers have asked for over the last few months…to alleviate some of the pressure labor shortages have placed on the food supply chain. Although it is a start but UK government needed to continue to collaborate with industry and seek additional long term solutions on this critical matter.
