The Freight Transport Association has issued a warning about how the lack or a reduction of workers from the European Union could have a damaging impact on the freight and logistics sector. The Trade Association has said that without the European Union workers the industry could slow significantly.

The Government released a policy paper on the 26th June that acts as a starting position for the the rights of workers who are going to be living in the UK after the nation has left the European Union. The paper covers the right of the workers in the UK after Brexit, however the FTA have pressed for more clarification about the point of which the new workers’ rights are introduced and the timings that will be used in implementing the rights for workers in the UK from the EU. The FTA are also campaigning and asking for the Government to make the application process for EU citizens as simple and easy as possible. Making the application process seamless will mean that the UK will not lose out on skilled staff.

Research has found that in the freight and logistics industry, 13% of the HGV drivers operating are EU workers. More than a quarter of warehouse operatives in the UK are workers that originate from other EU countries, and problems and challenges that occur when putting an application process in place could lead to a significant drop to these percentages and could lead to a demand for more workers in this sector. There are approximately 2.54 million people currently working in the logistics sector across the UK. To remove between 10% and 25% of this workforce by implementing a problematic application process for workers from the EU could be highly damaging for the logistics industry.

For the benefit of the logistics industry, the FTA have suggested that the Government ensure that application to work in the UK is as simple as possible to avoid missing out on skilled workers.