Boris Johnson wanted to leave the European Union, in part to close its borders.
However, they will be provisionally open to 10,500 foreign workers, to respond to labor shortages in freight and food processing.
From October to December, foreign workers will lend a hand to drive delivery trucks or participate in key sectors of the UK economy, such as poultry farming.
This decision taken this Saturday by the British government marks an unexpected turn in professional immigration after Brexit.
Boris Johnson's government has repeatedly said that it does not want to depend on foreign labor.
For months, the government tried to avoid it, despite warnings from many economic sectors and the estimated shortage of 100,000 truck drivers.
But the United Kingdom is observing more and more dysfunctions on its territory, causing great concern among the population.
Read alsoBrexit: 5 minutes to understand the "sausage war" between the United Kingdom and the European Union
Boris Johnson was facing increasing pressure.
The Covid-19 crisis and the consequences of Brexit have accentuated the shortages, which are combined with soaring energy prices.
Factories, restaurants, supermarkets have been affected by the lack of truck drivers for weeks, even months.
Fast food chain McDonald's ran out of milkshakes and drinks last month.
Competitor KFC has been forced to remove items from its menu, while the Nando's chain has temporarily closed dozens of restaurants for lack of chickens.
In recent days and despite calls from the government not to panic, gas stations have been stormed due to stockouts.
So far, the government has not responded to calls urging it to deploy troops to help distribute the fuel.
Thousands of heavy vehicle licenses
In addition to these work visas, other exceptional measures should ensure supplies before the Christmas holidays, said Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
Examiners from the Ministry of Defense will be mobilized to pass thousands of heavy vehicle permits in the coming weeks.
The Department of Education and its partner agencies will release millions of pounds to train 4,000 truckers by setting up training camps to step up the pace.
Mr. Shapps also called on employers to play the game "by continuing to improve working conditions and wages to retain new drivers".
Under pressure, the government will beat the recall of all HGV license holders: a million letters must go to ask those who do not drive to return to work.
However, the president of the British Chamber of Commerce Ruby McGregor-Smith considered that the number of visas was "insufficient" and "not enough to solve a problem of this magnitude".
“This ad is like wanting to put out a campfire with a glass of water,” she said.