British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday he would continue to review immigration rules and did not rule out issuing more temporary visas in a bid to help alleviate a shortage of truck drivers that has led to a fuel shortage.
Britain said last week it would issue temporary visas to 5,000 foreign truck drivers and 5,500 poultry workers in a bid to resolve an acute manpower shortage that has disrupted fuel supplies to stations and caused food production difficulties.
The British Road Transport Association says the country faces a driver shortage of around 100,000 as a result of workers deserting the sector, the pandemic halting driver training and testing for nearly a year and post-Brexit immigration rules that prevent the hiring of drivers from Europe.
On Friday, the government said it would deploy nearly 200 military personnel, including 100 military truck drivers, from Monday to help deliver fuel to gas stations and help address the shortage of heavy cargo vehicle drivers.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said last week, “Although the situation appears to be stabilizing, our armed forces are there to fill any important vacant positions and help keep the country moving by supporting industry to deliver fuel to stations.”
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