There is no request has been made so far to the Sri Lankan government regarding the intention of recruiting drivers to fill the current shortage of heavy vehicle drivers in the UK, Mr. Mangala Randeniya, Additional General Manager (International Affairs) of the Foreign Employment Bureau, said.
He further said that the Sri Lankan government had only been informed that there was such a shortage.
These days there is a lot of talk in Sri Lanka that since there is a shortage of lorry drivers in the United Kingdom has prompted job opportunities for Sri Lankan people too. which has created an interest among the people to apply for the vacancies and go to Britain.
However, despite the official factual situation, the Bureau also warns the public not to fall prey to money laundering scams claiming that some people are being smuggled out of the country.
Many people who have worked as heavy vehicle drivers (HGV Drivers) in other countries have returned to their home countries, including measures to close the country from the Covid epidemic, and many other reasons, resulting in unusual vacancies in several sectors in the country, including heavy vehicle drivers.
The driver shortage is estimated to be around 100,000, exacerbated by the Covid-19 epidemic as well as the UK withdrawal from the EU.
As a result, the country’s economy has also been severely affected by the inability to supply properly. Food and fuel supply chains are severely disrupted.
With this news, it seems that many drivers who want to go abroad are interested in it.
Among those interested in the vacancies are drivers from India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Nigeria, according to reports.
However, research has shown that drivers in non-EU countries are less likely to start work immediately.
The UK government has extended the duration of its emergency visa scheme, which seeks to persuade EU drivers to do so.
