London – Shortly before the start of the important Christmas business, British ports complain of a delay. British media reported on Wednesday that container ships would be diverted or would have to wait days at sea to enter.
Businesses fear this could lead to delays in the delivery of toys and electronics, for example. The fact that there are several containers waiting to be picked up is also due to the glaring lack of truckers. Therefore, the cargo cannot be transported to the interior of the country. The problem that has been known for months is now adding the usual increase due to the start of the Christmas business, the British Association of Ports recently announced.
The government was confident. “The situation is improving,” the general secretary of the ruling Conservative Party, Oliver Dowden, told Sky News on Wednesday. “I’m sure people will get their toys for Christmas.”
The driver shortage is not a British phenomenon, in Germany and other EU countries there are far fewer truck drivers than needed. However, Brexit will worsen the situation in Britain, as strict immigration rules make it difficult for skilled workers to move. The government, which wants to create a high-wage society over the course of its exit from the EU, has offered up to 5,000 temporary visas for foreign workers in order to solve the current bottlenecks.
Last year, just before Christmas, the containers had blocked British ports. At the time, this was due to the fallout from the crown pandemic and Brexit preparations, because many companies wanted to replenish their stocks before Britain left the EU customs union.
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