The temporary visa scheme announced last month is being extended due to the low number of applicants. The scheme was introduced to try to tackle labour shortages after Brexit and COVID-19.
In September the British government announced 5500 Temporary Worker Visas for poultry workers and 5000 for HGV drivers. However, the visas were only going to be valid for 12 weeks; becoming invalid on Christmas Eve.
Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, claimed 127 EU workers had applied for the visa, but shortly afterwards this was corrected by the government to just 27. Now, the government has extended the scheme to the 31st March 2022 hoping to attract more EU workers.
Upon announcement of the scheme, the government was criticised by experts who claimed it would be unappealing to EU workers. The Road Haulage Association said the scheme “barely scratches the surface”, adding that offering the visas to Christmas Eve “will not be attractive for companies or drivers”.
Experts also warned the number of visas offered was too low. The president of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Even if the maximum amount of people applied under the scheme, it will not be enough to address the problems in our supply chains.”
How has the scheme been extended?
In the weeks since the scheme was announced, supply chain problems continued and the government called in military aid for fuel deliveries.
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