Lorry driver shortage could leave shops empty this summer - Bristol Live

A lorry driver crisis caused by Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic could leave some supermarket shelves in Britain empty this summer.

In a letter sent to Boris Johnson on June 23, the industry called for his intervention to allow access to European labour, asking the Prime Minister to introduce temporary worker visas for HGV drivers, adding them to a "shortage occupation list".

According to the Mirror, insiders said the disruption means shops in the country could face gaps on shelves within weeks.

Richard Burnett, the chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, which coordinated the letter, said: "Supermarkets are already reporting that they are not receiving their expected food stocks and, as a result, there is considerable wastage."

However, a government spokesman said that with the country's new post-Brexit immigration system, the industry should look to hire local workers instead.

The shortage of lorry drivers has been mainly caused by Brexit due to increased checks and costs at the border. But the coronavirus pandemic has only made the problem worse because many workers returned to their country of origin in the past year.

Britain's supermarket industry relies on an army of drivers and warehouse workers to bring fresh produce from the fields of Europe to its shelves.

The letter said intervention from the government was could now be the only way to avert "critical supply chains failing at an unprecedented and unimaginable level".

In response, a government spokesman said progress had been made in hiring and training.

"Our new points-based immigration system makes clear employers should focus on investing in our domestic workforce, especially those needing to find new employment, rather than relying on labour from abroad," he said.

The British Retail Consortium denied shelves could be left empty but admitted a degree of “minor disruption” to some supply chains.

It said in a statement: “Supermarkets are working closely with their suppliers to ensure that consumers still have access to the same great selection of goods.”

While Morrisons said it had made the decision to prioritise its contracted customers.

A spokesman for the supermarket chain said: “Due to the national driver shortage, we’re prioritising our contracted customers and have temporarily suspended sales for a very small number – fewer than 10 – of our ad-hoc customers.

“We’re working hard with our partners to resolve this as soon as we can. This doesn’t affect any of our other services, for example to food banks, charities, local authorities and wholesalers, as well as contracted wholesale customers.”

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2021-06-27 05:00:00Z
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