In the UK, the British fear a shortage of turkeys at Christmas

The poultry sector is one of the most affected by the labor shortages affecting the entire UK economy.

REUTERS - PETER NICHOLLS

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

For lack of arms to raise them, there may not be a turkey on every British table at Christmas.

And easing post-Brexit immigration policy to be able to hire more foreign workers may not be enough.

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Post-Brexit problems are multiplying across the Channel.

The main poultry federation, British Poultry Council, on Monday (September 27th) welcomed the government's decision to grant

10,500 provisional visas for foreign workers

.

Three-month permits which must compensate for a glaring shortage of truck drivers but also of staff in key sectors of the British economy, such as poultry farming.

But these exceptional measures may not be sufficient, and above all they may come too late.

Because, according to the British Poultry Council, large poultry companies have already reduced their order books knowing that they will have fewer staff to prepare shipments.

For turkey producers, the damage has already been done and risks causing shortages for traditional Christmas meals. 

Supply issues

Shortages which should mainly affect

supermarkets supplies

, direct sales to small local producers should not suffer too much. It must be said that in anticipation of possible shortages, orders have exploded by 400% compared to last year and local producers are not sure of being able to cope with them. 

The sector, which employs 40,000 people, 22,800 of whom were EU citizens, is one of the most affected by the labor shortage affecting the entire UK economy.

A shortage due in particular to the pandemic, which has prompted many foreign workers to return to their country, but the situation is worsened by Brexit, which introduced much more complex immigration formalities.

In this context, temporary visas are surely not a long-term answer, assure the British producers. 

(

with

AFP)

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