London: The government is offering 10,500 temporary UK visas to truck drivers and poultry workers in a bid to limit disruption in the run-up to Christmas.
The government confirmed that 5,000 drivers will be eligible to work in the UK for three months, until Christmas Eve with the scheme also extended to include 5,500 poultry workers.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said it would “ensure preparations remain on track” for the festive season.
The intervention from the government comes after intensive lobbying by the transport industry and in the face lengthy queues of cars at petrol stations closed due to lack of fuel – despite ministers insisting the UK has plenty of fuel.
Other measures include using an unspecified number of Ministry of Defence examiners to increase heavy goods vehicle testing capacity, and sending nearly one million letters to drivers who hold an HGV licence, encouraging them back into the industry.
The Department for Transport7 said the loan of MoD examiners would help put on “thousands of extra tests” over the next 12 weeks.
Recruitment for additional short-term HGV drivers and poultry workers will begin in October.
Shapps said: “We are acting now, but the industries must also play their part with working conditions continuing to improve and the deserved salary increases continuing to be maintained in order for companies to retain new drivers.
“After a very difficult 18 months, I know how important this Christmas is for all of us and that’s why we’re taking these steps at the earliest opportunity to ensure preparations remain on track.”
