Panic Buying in U.K. Creates Shortages at Gas Stations

     U.K.’s departure from the European Union have impacted the U.K. in multiple ways. Recently, shortage of tanker drivers to transport the fuel tankers across the country has created panic among the consumers, and now the British government is looking for more tanker drivers to deliver the fuel to gas stations. As a result of panic, many gas stations closed after their supplies depleted and the government kept soldiers on standby to deliver the fuel. However, the government official stated that there’s plenty of fuel in the U.K., but it needs to be delivered to gas stations. U.K. is helping this situation by easing their visa restriction (temporarily) for truck drivers which will allow up to 5000 truck drivers from across the EU to drive the fuel tankers and help to solve the gas shortage issue. For the moment, the oil companies are asked to suspend competition and help the government identify the areas for fuel shortages so that they can focus on them and help resolve the issue. According to the Petrol Retailers Association, existing supplies are being given priority to highway gas stations to avoid tailbacks. The main reason because the U.K. left the EU which revoked the right of EU citizens to live and work in the country and it also implemented a strict immigration system which meant that lower-paid and lower-skilled workers had to meet a strict set of criteria to enter and work in the country. The government defended this by that this would force the local businesses to train local employees and pay them higher wages. Furthermore, the pandemic worsened this problem. Significant number of truck drivers changed their job because wage raises were nowhere to be seen. The government is also trying to reach out to drivers who have truck driving licenses and are currently not working, requesting them to return. It is possible for the government to train new truck drivers but not feasible because it takes 18 months to train a driver and the government requires drivers now to resolve the shortage. If the government is not successful to solve this shortage, gas stations that have supplies of fuel will charge a higher amount and they can make huge profits.