UK invites 10,500 truck drivers, poultry workers for short term visa

The United Kingdom (UK) says it will grant 10,500 short-term work visas to foreign truck drivers and poultry workers until Christmas 2021.

According to a statement issued by the Department for Transport over the weekend, 5,000 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers will be able to come to work in the UK for 3 months in the run-up to Christmas to provide “short-term relief for the haulage industry”.

Some 5,500 poultry workers will also be added to the visa scheme to “avoid any potential further pressures on the food industry during this exceptional period.

The UK government said recruitment for additional short-term truck drivers and poultry workers will begin in October with visas valid until December 24, Christmas eve.

According to reports, the shortage of truck drivers in the UK has been exacerbated by the pandemic, an ageing workforce, poor working conditions, and post-Brexit immigration policy.

Grant Shapps, UK transport secretary, said the visa scheme would ease the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s haulage and food industry.

“This package of measures builds on the important work we have already done to ease this global crisis in the UK, and this government continues to do everything we can to help the haulage and food industries contend with the HGV (heavy goods vehicle) driver shortage,” Shapps said.

“We are acting now, but the industries must also play their part with working conditions continuing to improve, and the deserved salary increases continuing to be maintained for companies to retain new drivers.

“After a very difficult 18 months, I know how important this Christmas is for all of us and that’s why we’re taking these steps at the earliest opportunity to ensure preparations remain on track.”

EndSARS anniversary: It’s illegal for police to threaten protesters -Adegboruwa

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has described as illegal “threat” by Lagos State Police Command to stop a protest expected to hold October 20 in commemoration of #EndSARS anniversary.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, CP Hakeem Odumosu, had on Monday warned against any planned protest in the state.

“Credible intelligence at the disposal of the command has revealed clandestine plans by some youths, individuals or groups to embark on a protest today in commemoration of the one year anniversary of #EndSARS.

“The police in the state will not fold their arms and allow some misguided elements disrupt the peace and serenity currently being enjoyed in the state,” he had said.

Reacting, Adegboruwa said the protesters deserved to be protected by police.

He said, “My attention has been drawn to a statement made by the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, wherein he threatened to suppress the protests planned for the commemoration of EndSARS. The Commissioner stated that the police will do everything within its powers to stop the protests.

This is not proper in a democracy, which is nurtured by the observance of the rule of law and due respect for human rights. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, grants to every citizen the freedom of expression without interference. 

“The responsibility of the Police under the Police Act, 2020, is to offer protection to citizens who embark upon peaceful, civil, and lawful protests and not to threaten them.

“The deliberate act of the Police to suppress lawful protests has no place in our Constitution and it should not be condoned at all. I am concerned that the Police and the government generally seem not to have learnt any lesson from the EndSARS protests of 2020, for the purpose of engaging citizens in lawful ways.

“Considering that the ruling All Progressive Congress is itself a child of protests, it is unimaginable that the same government is seeking to gag citizens from enjoying the same rights that its leaders deployed to full advantage when they were in the opposition.

“I, therefore, urge the Police to exercise restrain and work with the protesters to achieve a peaceful and orderly outing and to offer them protection.

“I urge the protesters to shun all acts of violence and disruptions of business or hindrance of movement of persons, in the course of the protests.”

Source: https://punchng.com/endsars-anniversary-its-illegal-for-police-to-threaten-protesters-adegboruwa/?utm_source=OneSignal&utm_medium=web-push