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Dr Masimba Mavaza
On 3 October 2021, Kalyeena Makortoff reported that “Brexit, global supply chain issues and the ‘long tail of Covid-19’ hadcreated a ‘perfect storm for UK firms’”.
Staff shortages are crippling the haulage, farming and hospitality sectors and all parts of the economy, putting “severe pressure” on medium-sized business across the UK.
A survey published on 3 October 3 2021 said: “More than a quarter of the 500 firms polled said the lack of staff was putting pressure on their ability to operate at normal levels, with reduced stock – due to the resulting supply chain disruption – hurting their business.
“Business confidence in UK is at four-year high, but staff shortages a concern”
These shortages have motivated many companies to increase wages to attract new staff, while others were introducing extra perks to lure workers.
This time, more than ever, the UK is opening its borders to immigrants to fill in the gaps left by Brexit.
Despite racism in UK, the country is run by immigrants, from the sweeper to the prime minister, to the prince and to many people.
The British people have had a negative view of foreigners before the election of Boris Johnson as prime minister. Johnson brought a complete change in dynamics to the immigrants in the UK.
But ironically, the UK is now run by immigrants occupying the top four offices of government: Prime Minister Johnson is the grandson of Osman Ali Kemal (Turkish); the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is the son of Peter Raab (Czech Jewish); Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid is the son of Abdul Ghani-Javid (Pakistani); and Home Secretary Priti Patel is the daughter of Sushil Patel (Indian).
It is in this irony that the immigrants in the UK hold on to a hope against hope that their immigrant ‘brothers’ who now run the UK might make life easier for them. It’s hard to say.
Johnson has been a little of everything during his career. Over three decades in public life, Johnson has shifted between social liberalism and right-wing provocation.
As London mayor for two terms, between 2008 and 2016, he spoke of his pro-immigrant beliefs and presented the British capital as a tolerant, multi-cultural melting pot.
Responding in 2015 to untrue claims by Donald Trump that the police had lost control of parts of London to radical Muslim groups, Johnson said: “London is a city where 300 languages are spoken,” and spoke of the city’s “…proud history of tolerance and diversity”.
But after Johnson entered 10 Downing Street, his views have become much more nationalist and populist.
What is in store for the immigrants?
Johnson, in his first prime minister’s briefing, confirmed that he would give amnesty to immigrants who hadnot committed any crime.
The dilemma of the immigrants is whether any politician can be trusted as up to now no amnesty has been given, but the borders are opening for those who want to work.
Coming to the UK now is the best time for fellow Zimbabweans who are considering working abroad.
One should come to the UK fully aware that the attitude of the British towards foreigners is as unpredictable as their weather.
In Johnson’s campaign speech, he talked about “Britishness”, while on another platform he seems pro-immigrants.
The future of immigrants is not settled, but you are being invited to find out more.
Net migration to the UK is 1,4 million higher than it would have been if ministers had achieved their pledge to reduce it to under 100 000 a year, according to a new study by centre-right think tank, Onward.
The report, written by two former top advisors to former prime minister Theresa May, urged the next Tory leader to adopt a “…more detailed and transparent policy” post-Brexit rather than sticking with the ‘failed’ 2010 target. But all this is now water under the bridge, the shortage of workers is bringing Britain to its knees.
Can the shortages of workers reported by the food and drink sector be solved by making it easier to hire migrants? How will wages in these sectors change? Is there a conflict between short and long-term fixes?
Alan Manning offered his perspective on these issues in the British paper recently.
The massive employer lobbying on worker shortages unsurprisingly tries to talk up the seriousness of the consequences, often using emotive images – Christmas without the turkey, fruit and vegetables left to rot in fields (or given away for free).
This Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said that the economic recovery is at risk of being undermined without new visas for foreign workers.
This has made a sharp change in the policy against immigration visitors. The call for more workers is being made in the national interest but, first and foremost, what they are asking for is generally in their interest.
This means Johnson has been forced to adopt the political correctness which will be against the restrictions of immigrants.
Zimbabweans in the UK are holding their breaths — they are not sure which way it will go, but they have started preparing their families and friends to come and join them in the “land of kneeless” people.
But the report, released by accountancy and advisory firm BDO said the knock-on effects for consumers could be “significant”, with nearly one-third of businesses saying the prices would need to rise in the next three to six months to make up for the disruption.
More than one-third of firms in the survey said they had also cut down on the kinds of products and services on offer, while a further third planned to do the same over the coming month unless the situation radically improves.
A similar proportion expect stock ranges to be affected long-term. Businesses blamed the pandemic and Brexit for the shortage of overseas workers, with 38 percent saying a lack of regional talent was hurting their ability to recruit much-needed staff.
Work migration policy cannot be used for generalised labour shortages. Immigration increases the supply of labour, but as migrants spend their earnings, it also raises the demand for labour; any gap between the supply and demand for labour is the same.
However, work migration policy is now being used to address some localised shortages.
Zimbabweans who are willing to have a feel of the diaspora life can apply for visas to come to the UK and join many who are signed in “the voluntary slavery scheme”.
Online Reporter