Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that 127 of the 300 planned visas for foreign tanker drivers were issued in Great Britain. Drivers had to come to Great Britain to help solve fuel supply problems. In the end, 5,000 visas will be issued.
This is a great illustration of the scarcity problem. We told the shipping sector, “Okay, give us the names of the drivers you want to bring, we’ll get the visas and you’ll get another 5,000.” So far, they have given only 127 names. This shows that this is a global shortage, Johnson said in an interview with BBC4 on the occasion of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.
Boris Johnson: Supply chains are overburdened
Asked whether supply problems in recent days were not a sign the country was in crisis, Johnson replied: “No, I don’t think so.” What we see in the UK economy, and indeed in the global economy, is largely due to the fact that supply chains are feeling overburdened and overburdened, as would be expected of an awakened giant – and it happens.
He said the country was facing a “very exciting moment” and that the lack of employment was a symptom of a strong economy with the potential to generate further growth.
However, he stressed that British companies should abandon their reliance on cheap imported labour. “What we’ve seen in the last 20 years or more, almost 25 years, has been an approach where many types of businesses have been able to keep wages low, costs low, and immigration low for a very long time,” Johnson said.
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The fuel crisis in Great Britain. Drivers wanted
The British government announced last Friday that it would allow foreign fuel tankers and food transport drivers to start operating in the UK immediately – on a temporary basis to alleviate existing short-term supply problems.
Under this plan, 300 tanker drivers can come to the UK immediately and stay in business until the end of March 2022, and 4,700 food drivers can come from the end of October and stay until the end of February 2022. As of the end of October, 5,500 employees will also come from the sector poultry, who will be able to survive until December 31, 2021.
Main image source: PAP / EPA / FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA