FOLLOWING the recent shortages of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers in Britain, the country now has to seek more foreign butchers to help its meat processing industry.

The British Government said that up to 800 additional foreign butchers will be eligible to apply until Dec. 31 for visas that will allow them to travel and work here for six months.

“This temporary adjustment is in addition to foreign butchers already being eligible since December 2020 to apply to come to the United Kingdom through the Skilled Worker route as part of the point-based immigration system,” said a joint statement issued by the Department for Transport and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

“A unique range of pressures on the pig sector over recent months such as the impacts of the pandemic and its effect on export markets have led to the temporary package of measures we are announcing today,” said George Eustice, secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs.

“This is the result of close working with industry to understand how we can support them through this challenging time,” Eustice added.

Responding to the fresh butchers recruitment notice, Tom Bradshaw, vice president in the National Farmers’ Union, said this is “very welcome news for the pork sector and provides some long-awaited relief for those farmers with pigs backing up on farms.”

“Given the severity of these issues, it’s critical that this scheme is up and running as soon as possible to ease this backlog,” said Bradshaw. “Labor shortages across the food supply chain remain acute and continued engagement with government is essential to solve these wider issues.”

“The food supply chain remains united in its view that a temporary 12-month COVID Recovery Visa is needed to enable the entire food and drink sector to recruit for essential roles,” Bradshaw added.(Xinhua)