There has been criticism for a long time, now it should be quick: After several outbreaks of corona in slaughterhouses, politicians are addressing stricter rules for the industry - there is mainly trouble about a ban.
Berlin (dpa) - Most meat buyers hardly think of it when they have the schnitzel in the pan and the sausage on the grill. However, the corona crisis has put the working conditions in slaughterhouses with branching subcontractors and crowded workers' accommodation in the glare.
Only a few weeks after the outbreak of infections at the first company locations, the Federal Government decided on Wednesday. There can be no tolerance in Germany for a business model that accepts the exploitation and spread of pandemics, said Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD). A key point is an extensive ban on work contracts.
The fact that politics now wants to take action very quickly is also due to problems that have been known for a long time. Trade unionists have been denouncing nested constructions with sub, sub, subcontractors for years in order to create conditions for workers who often come from Eastern Europe. A control campaign in North Rhine-Westphalia in the past year resulted in serious violations of occupational health and safety in 26 out of 30 assessed companies. Shifts longer than 12 hours were not uncommon. The cornerstones set by the cabinet should explicitly avoid rules being circumvented. Heil now wants to draw up a draft for the legislative process. An overview:
WORK CONTRACTS: From 1 January 2021, the slaughtering and processing of meat should only be permitted with employees of the company's own business. It would then be taboo to award contracts for work - i.e. to buy the complete execution of work from other companies. Heil explained that this was aimed at industrial meat plants, also from large retail chains and family businesses - but not, for example, at smaller craft slaughterhouses or sausage orders from consumers in the supermarket. For the meat industry, it should now be prevented that companies outsource core areas of their activities.
The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) welcomed such a basis to put an end to "organized irresponsibility" through entire chains of subcontractors. This could end the previous system, which makes employees "lawless nomads", said DGB board member Anja Piel. Heil explained that he was counting on employees who had previously been outsourced to be gradually employed directly at the slaughterhouse. That is also "no rocket science".
CHECKS: To enforce rules, they must be monitored. However, the health and safety controls of the responsible state authorities throughout the economy have been falling overall for years. Irrespective of new laws, Heil is also aiming for a surveillance offensive with customs and regulatory and health authorities in certain sectors - including harvest helpers. Fixed quotas are to be set by law as to which parts of companies are to be visited annually. A specific size is not mentioned. The last discussion was five percent, based on the target year 2026.
REPORTING OBLIGATIONS AND FEES: Employers should be obliged to inform the authorities about where foreign workers live and where they work. There should also be a duty to digitally record working hours. In the event of violations, higher fines are to be threatened: Heil wants to raise the framework for this from 15,000 euros to 30,000 euros.
THE REACTIONS: Sharp protests came from the economy. "We do not tolerate violations and defects in hygiene, occupational safety and accommodation," said the employers' organizations. But it is unacceptable if shortcomings of individual companies are misused to abolish successful and flexible instruments such as work contracts. Heil defended his plans: There are also stricter rules in other industries because of particular threats. He currently does not plan to address the issue of work contracts elsewhere. The left called for this and referred to similar structures in construction and in building cleaners.
THE MEAT PRICES: The government did not comment on the consequences of better working conditions on supermarket prices. Lure offers for meat are already causing trouble for farmers and animal rights activists. "Better conditions in the meat industry are long overdue," said the head of the Federal Consumer Association (vzbv), Klaus Müller, the "Rheinische Post" (Thursday). The price must reflect what the production costs under fair conditions. In the middle of the debate, a push by discount market leader Aldi saw price cuts for sausage products for swirls - the background to a slump in pork prices in recent weeks.