The Federal Cabinet of Germany decided on Wednesday to ban labor contracts in the meat industry. To this end, the government passed the draft Occupational Health and Safety Control Act, according to government circles.

The meat industry came under criticism in the COVID-19 crisis because numerous employees at slaughterhouses tested positive, who were often not directly employed by the company but by subcontractors.

According to the draft law, only employees of their own company will be allowed to slaughter and cut animals in the future. Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) wants to lay down minimum requirements for the accommodation of employees in shared accommodation outside the company’s premises - and not just for the meat industry, but across industries.

Exceptions should apply to smaller companies with a maximum of 49 employees. There are also plans for more checks.

The law is designed to ensure that slaughterhouse operators can no longer be held responsible for claims by subcontractors who provide work through employment contracts.

The antecedents of the project are the coronavirus cases accumulated in the slaughterhouses in the last months. As a result, the much-criticized working conditions in the meat industry with many Eastern European employees and their accommodation refocused. After the cabinet decision, the law still has to go through the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.

SHOTLIST:

1. Various of pigs at Toennies Plant
2. Various of Toennies Slaughterhouse
3. Various of Toennies processing plant
4. Various protests at a German slaughterhouse with the presence of Armin Laschet, Prime Minister of the North Rhine-Westphalia


STORYLINE:

The Federal Cabinet of Germany decided on Wednesday to ban labor contracts in the meat industry. To this end, the government passed the draft Occupational Health and Safety Control Act, according to government circles.

The meat industry came under criticism in the Coronavirus crisis because numerous employees at slaughterhouses tested positive, who were often not directly employed by the company but by subcontractors.

According to the draft law, only employees of their own company will be allowed to slaughter and cut animals in the future. In addition, Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) wants to lay down minimum requirements for the accommodation of employees in shared accommodation outside the company’s premises - and not just for the meat industry, but across industries.

Exceptions should apply to smaller companies with a maximum of 49 employees. There are also plans for more checks.

The law is designed to ensure that slaughterhouse operators can no longer be held responsible for claims by subcontractors who provide work through employment contracts.

The antecedents of the project are the coronavirus cases accumulated in the slaughterhouses in the last months. As a result, the much-criticized working conditions in the meat industry with many Eastern European employees and their accommodation refocused. After the cabinet decision, the law still has to go through the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.