Tim Martin demands liberal immigration policy from Priti Patel
The Daily Telegraph (2.6) apparently without irony has published news that Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin is, in effect, demanding that Priti Patel introduce a liberal immigration policy as he has a staff shortage.
This seems rather odd as Martin was a leading Brexiteer (and just another reminder, I voted Remain, though I’m no fan of the EU). Surely the plan was that once EU workers were not available this would mean jobs for willing workers in the UK to take-up.
As beer writer Matthew Curtis highlighted on Twitter Wetherspoons jobs paying £8.91* an hour on zero hours contracts are not particularly attractive and certainly offer no possibility of a career in hospitality.
Martin has denied that there is staff shortage in a BBC report except in ‘small seaside towns’. Wetherspoons current FTE is 38,000, 6,000 less than before the pandemic however suggesting a significant issue if business picks up (albeit some of the reduction is in HQ staff, which will also have an impact on how the Company is run)
Lobbying Priti Patel to liberalise immigration policy looks somewhat utopian particularly as Martin has a much easier way to solve his staffing crisis. Namely to recognise a union and reach agreement on appropriate and decent terms and working conditions.
*£8.91 an hour is the current national minimum wage for 23 year old & older workers
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