Relax Immigration Rules To Fix Jobs Squeeze, Companies Urge UK

• Britain must relax its new immigration rules to allow more foreign workers and ease labour shortages caused by the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit, a leading employers group, the Confederation of British Industry, said on Monday. 
• Since COVID restrictions began to ease earlier this year companies have complained about the lack of workers especially in hospitality, food processing and logistics, which has led to gaps on supermarket shelves and restaurant closures. 
• Britain's government has been reluctant to ease its immigration rules. Last month the business ministry rejected a call from retailers and logistics firms for an exemption for truck drivers, and said the industry should improve pay and conditions instead. 
• The British Government has called on employers to train more British people to fill vacancies however, this may take up to two years and as such cause disruptions in the Labour market in the short-term.

(Source: Reuters and NCBCM Research)