Brexit’s fowl up
Poultry boss claims migrant worker rules closed Nando’s
A POULTRY industry boss has claimed post-Brexit rules are to blame for the chaos that forced Nando’s restaurants to close.
The spicy chicken chain temporarily shut 45 outlets this week due to shortages of chicken caused by chronic “supply chain issues”.
Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council, yesterday claimed immigration and worker rules – brought in after the UK left the EU – are to blame for shortages.
He said: “The situation we’re seeing, I think, is a result of the Brexit issues that have arisen. And we’re seeing struggles across the supply chain, with a shortage of labour.”
Since January 1, the UK has welcomed skilled migrants, who must earn at least £20,480. Lowskilled workers have been barred.
But Mr Griffiths argued that poultry supply chain staff should be classed as skilled workers.
He claimed: “There is an awful lot of skill involved in the roles we are looking at. It’s just under immigration policy they’re not classed as skilled.”
He said he had written to Home Secretary Priti Patel about the issue but had yet to receive a reply.
Warning of “increasing food insecurity”, Mr Griffiths said: “Our members are reporting up to 16% staff vacancies at the moment and this is a direct result of the limiting of immigration policies.
“We are asking the Government to ease those, and look at the skills and development arena as well.”
Asked by BBC Radio 4’s Today if his members could offer better pay and therefore recruit British workers instead, Mr Griffiths said: “We’ve seen over years that the willingness and availability are just not there in the UK workforce.”
The problem has been worsened as many lorry drivers and other key staff have been “pinged” by the NHS app and forced to self-isolate in the pandemic.
It is understood that Nando’s chiefs believe those rules, which were eased this week, were also to blame for shortages at their outlets. A spokeswoman for the peri-peri chicken chain vowed that normal service would be reinstated from tomorrow. She added: “It is our intention that all of our restaurants will be open again.”
Rival KFC previously warned that similar supply issues meant it was unable to stock some menu items.