All eyes are currently on Germany's meat industry. After the new corona virus broke out in several slaughterhouses, many slaughterhouse operators had to face harsh criticism. Now the federal government is also reacting to the scandals - vegans will be happy ...
- Across Germany, slaughterhouse employees have been infected with coronavirus *.
- Meat industry then under massive criticism.
- Now Greens boss Robert Habeck calls for a reform of meat production.
Bad Bramstedt / Berlin - It all started in the inconspicuous-looking Bad Bramstedt (Schleswig-Holstein) : employees in the Vion slaughterhouse located therebecame infected with the corona virus . First there were 51 employees, then the number of infected people rose rapidly. Almost 140 employees are now affected - 24hamburg.de reported *.
The incident brings with it a lot of criticism, which primarily focuses on inadequate hygiene measures and the cramped living situation of the employees. It is now clear that this is not an isolated case - because the corona virus has also broken out in other slaughterhouses , colleagues from merkur.de reported cases in Bavaria. *
Coronavirus in slaughterhouses: Robert Habeck (Greens) with a radical suggestion
A lack of security precautions and tight living situations seem to be a fundamental, nationwide problem in the meat industry . Even the federal government is now responding to the slaughterhouse scandals - and Robert Habeck makes a bold proposal.
| Politician | Robert Habeck |
| Born | September 2, 1969 (age 50 years) |
| Spouse | Andrea Paluch |
| Political party | Alliance 90 / The Greens |
| Office | Member of the Federal Council since 2012 |
| training | University of Hamburg (2000), MORE |
Chancellor Angela Merkel and Julia Klöckner express criticism of the meat industry
Due to the increased number of coronavirus cases in German slaughterhouses and the criticism of production, working and living conditions of workers, the Corona cabinet is planning a discussion on the subject. The goal: to establish new regulations that ensure occupational safety in the German meat industry. As the Hamburger Abendblatt reports, Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) has already made initial suggestions for innovations in the Occupational Health and Safety Act: Accordingly, the aim is to ban work contracts in slaughterhouses .
The background: So far - also in the Bad Bramstedt case - most of the employees in slaughterhouses have been employed by subcontractors. These are often also responsible for the workers' living quarters, where people often live closely - the Norddeutsche Rundunk (NDR) reported in detail on this.
At the Vion slaughterhouse in Bad Bramstedt, almost 140 employees and relatives were infected with the corona virus.
© Maja Hitij / dpa / picture alliance
Even Chancellor Angela Merkel will not let the events without comment, she spoke of "alarming news" and in relation to the housing situation of "significant deficiencies" The Union now wants to respond. State Economics Minister Julia Klöckner (CDU) and NRW Labor Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) demand higher fines for violations of working time regulations in slaughterhouses: "The amount of the fine should be increased from 15,000 to 30,000 euros", demands Klöckner.
After slaughterhouse scandals: Robert Habeck (Greens) demanding the meat industry
Cheap #meat has a high price - for animals, the environment, workers and farmers. Our 7-point plan puts an end to contracts for work in # meat businesses, wage dumping, poor hygiene and forever long animal transports. https://t.co/q5WcdaTiAf
- ALLIANCE 90 / THE GREENS (@Die_Gruenen) May 18, 2020The coronavirus cases in German slaughterhouses are also an issue for the Greens . Initiated by Robert Habeck , the party responds with a seven-point plan in which it calls for fundamental changes for the German meat industry . In the plan, the party requires the following measures:
- A ban on work contracts through subcontractors.
- The introduction of general contractor liability.
- Clear hygiene and health standards in workers' accommodation.
- Responsibility of the works councils in one location for the entire workforce.
- Effective controls on health protection, occupational safety, working hours and correct remuneration.
- A minimum price for animal products .
- Animal protection center, shorter animal transports, regional slaughterhouses, mobile slaughtering facilities.
There were similar reactions and demands for business measures in the German meat industry from the Food, Enjoyment and Catering Union ( NGG ). Freddy Adjan, the vice-federal chairman, told the Hamburger Abendblatt that the government "should pave the way for a fundamental reform of the meat industry with new laws and crystal-clear rules".
The meat industry itself has since rejected criticism of hygiene and labor standards. In the meantime, the employees of 22 slaughterhouses in several federal states had been subjected to corona virus tests - Heike Harstick told the FAZ. She is the managing director of the Association of the German Meat Industry , which also includes the slaughterhouses of the Westfleisch, Vion and Müller groups . 48 of the 9710 tests carried out by Saturday were positive.
Source: 24hamburg.de
* 24hamburg.de and merkur.de are part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
