Since the pandemic hit, the United Kingdom has been relatively strict with immigration rules. From creating a traffic light system for all international travel to mandating quarantine and COVID testing upon arrival, Johnson’s government has ensured that the movement of people has been as limited as possible. However, as the economy starts to reopen, businesses are calling for further relaxation of immigration rules so as to remedy the shortage of workers in certain industries.

In regard to the travel of foreign workers into the United Kingdom, there are more than just a few restrictions in place. Depending on the country you are arriving from, there are strict quarantine rules and regulations in place, and the closure or minimal operation for many UK embassies across the world means that workers and companies alike are finding it difficult to fill the employment gap.

The dilemma: a shortage of workers

As movement between the United Kingdom and other countries is largely restricted, companies in the UK have complained that there are not enough workers to take up jobs in industries like hospitality, food processing and logistics. The Confederation of the British Industry (CBI) has said that Britain must make a move now to remedy this problem, particularly because it is being fuelled by not only the pandemic, but also because of Brexit.

It has been seen that in light of the problem, which is indicating a record number of vacancies, a shortage of truck drivers has led employers to offer incentives like signing-on and retention bonuses. Moreover, the CBI says that professions such as drivers, welders, butchers and bricklayers should be classified as ‘shortage occupations’ for immigration purposes. This would not only improve the ease of access in acquiring a work visa but also allow employers who are sponsoring them to pay salaries below thresholds for migrant workers.

The pandemic is not wholly to blame as the shortage is, at least in part, owing to Brexit. Migrant workers returned home following the imposed changes and now companies and government alike are beginning to see the error of their ways. The rhetoric of migrant workers ‘stealing jobs’ could not have been further from the truth – these workers were an integral part of keeping the country moving.

Government response

While the UK government is trying to encourage companies to train British workers to fill the vacancies, the CBI claims that this could take up to 2 years. Boris Johnson has also avoided official advice on which types of professions should be considered under ‘shortage status’, which possibly indicates that there could be little cooperation from the government in assisting the companies that face this problem.

Work visas are still being issued, however, it is increasingly difficult for workers to actually make it to the UK in time for their start date; the Home Office was supposed to waive a rule that the start date of a worker cannot be postponed past 28 days, however, no action has been taken yet. Last month, the business ministry also rejected a plea from retailers and logistics firms for an exemption for truck drivers; they counteracted this problem by claiming that the industry should improve pay and conditions in order to attract more drivers.

Conclusion

The CBI has said that it does not expect that the end of the government’s furlough program on September 30 2021 (when thousands of private-sector workers could potentially become unemployed) would make it easier for companies to find staff. Naturally, businesses are now struggling to plan for the future with little guidance and assistance from the government; this is also why it was made increasingly difficult to implement the free movement of EU workers as of January this year.

It seems unlikely that Johnson’s government will cooperate with companies, however, they must strategically plan ahead, as the global economy slowly returns to normalcy and economic growth becomes more vital.

About the Author: Nandini Mehta

Nandini Mehta is a contributing Features Writer focusing on the development of technology and business practices around the world. Nandini has an in-depth knowledge of politics and international relations, and so writes pieces that utilise her interest for current affairs.