- CO2 shortage has nothing to do with Brexit - but high gas prices that is affecting all countries and where our 2 plants that produce C02 decided to shut down as it was too expensive for them to operate.
- The lorry driver shortage is hitting all of the EU as well as the UK - dont see how that can be placed fully at the foot of Brexit either, it is a contributor. It has made somethings tings worse for sure. The solution is the one we are pursuing - ie force the industry to raise wages and improve working conditions for drivers(which is a good thing!!!) to make it an attractive career rather than simply importing cheaper EU resources which will make the problem worse as and not better since that will force wages down and stop the ability to grow this in the UK. Additionally - the UK goverment has changed the Tax regime for IR35 meaning they are paying a bit more tax(ie not treated as self employed) which meant some drivers left as that cost/reward ratio changed. Once again - nothing to do with Brexit - but local UK tax planning. That adds to the cause.
Some of the changes around customs have forced more pressure on the industry for sure - but it is a complex problem with many variables contributing to a perfect storm.
The issue is fundamentally a transport industry in the UK that wants to keep its cheap disposable labour that accepts poor working conditions so that it can maximise its profits rather than invest in locals by paying a good living wage and is forcing the issue by creating a problem that has the optics and effect that it is having now. Lack of EU cheap labour is not a suprise and the industry could and should have planned for it, itself.
There’s a Europe-wide HGV driver shortage. So why do UK supply chains seem more disrupted?
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