Worker Shortages Zapping UK Economy, From Farms To Supermarts

Worker shortages have left UK service stations empty, created gaps on supermarket shelves, and are forcing farms to cull pigs. Even the finance industry is starting to suffer. The situation could get much worse this winter if the British government doesn't relax its Brexit immigration rules, business leaders say, Wale Azeez reported for CNN Business.

Photo Insert: A tractor in an Essex farm, United Kingdom

Farmers, bankers, retailers, transporters, and restaurateurs have warned in recent weeks that tighter immigration rules put in place after Britain left the European Union are making it hard for them to find workers and keep their businesses running.

Supermarkets are struggling to keep some specific foods stocked, while McDonald's temporarily stopped serving milkshakes and Nando's ran out of its signature peri peri chicken. Meat processors can't keep up with demand, and farmers are warning that there won't be enough turkeys at Christmas. Abattoirs can't cope with the number of pigs being reared.

Banks are the latest to sound the alarm. TheCityUK, which represents the United Kingdom's huge financial services industry, said Thursday that its members were seeing significant cost increases to securing the high-skilled talent that they need to compete on the global stage.

"To stay competitive, we must have the best global talent. Without it, we will not be able to innovate in key growth areas like FinTech or green finance, nor build out our international trading networks," CEO Miles Celic said in a statement.

"The UK must strive harder to modernize its immigration processes," he added. The financial sector is asking the government to make it easier for workers to come to the United Kingdom for short stints. It also wants the government to negotiate with other countries to allow workers to easily cross borders for roles with their current employer.

The scale of the challenge facing UK employers has been highlighted over the past week when a shortage of tanker drivers forced some service stations to close. British motorists resorted to panic buying, causing widespread gasoline shortages that persisted for days.

The government responded with emergency measures that included temporary 5,000 visas for foreign truck drivers. Britain faces a much bigger shortfall of 100,000 drivers, according to industry groups, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson signaled that his government is unlikely to authorize more.

"What we want to see is an emphasis on high wage, high skill — a high productivity approach to our economy. What I don't think that people in this country want to do is fix all our problems with uncontrolled immigration," said Johnson.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic