Popular German confectionery brand Haribo says it is struggling to deliver sweets to retailers in the UK due to a shortage of lorry drivers.
Many producers and shops are currently “experiencing challenges” with their supply chains. The haulage industry is suffering with thousands of unfilled HGV driver jobs. This is because of a combination of the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit.
The government is taking action by funding apprenticeships and increasing the capacity for HGV driving tests.
The issue is affecting all of the sweets in Haribo’s range, including Goldbears and favourites Tangfastics. The firm says it is trying to address the problem by “working with partners across the food and drink industry”.
A wider problem
The Road Haulage Association claims there is a 60,000 shortfall of drivers at the moment. Due to the Covid pandemic last year, an estimated 30,000 HGV driving tests could not take place.
As lockdown restrictions ease and economy reopens, several sectors are encountering difficulties finding suitable employees to fill their vacant positions. The haulage industry is just one of the areas affected. Some experts believe the troubles stem from the UK missing workers from EU countries.
The deputy chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation says that prior to the pandemic, a lot of lorry drivers in the UK were nationals of EU countries. In particular, there were a lot of workers from Romania and Bulgaria. Although they remained in the UK following the Brexit referendum, they began leaving when coronavirus hit. As a result, they have now found work in their home countries, and may not return to the UK. According to Kate Shoesmith, “they feel it’s not right” to come back because of Brexit or the pandemic.
A spokesperson for the government says they are working together with the industry to tackle driver shortages. Action is already taken on making it possible for more tests, and investing money in apprenticeships.
However, the majority of solutions are likely to come from the industry itself. There is progress in testing and hiring, and a push towards improving working conditions and pay.
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