Talking to the meat industry is just a “show”

After Corona outbreaks in the meat industry, Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner invites you to the meat summit – and above all reaps criticism.

The industry meeting on livestock and meat industry scheduled for Friday at the Federal Minister of Agriculture Julia Klöckner (CDU) has already triggered massive criticism in advance. The DGB and the Greens spoke of a mere “show” event. The meeting was scheduled after a series of coronavirus outbreaks among slaughterhouse workers.

DGB: Invited only at the last minute

The board member of the German Trade Union Confederation, Anja Piel, complained that representatives of the employees had only been invited “afterwards” and “at the last minute”. Apparently, a sustainable improvement in the working conditions of employees in the meat industry should not be in the foreground, said Piel of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (“NOZ”).

Critics attribute the spread of the novel corona virus in the industry to working conditions and the placement of many employees in cramped communal accommodation. Many Eastern Europeans work in the slaughterhouses, which are employed by subcontractors.

Klöckner: Readjustment of animal husbandry necessary

In addition to employee representatives, representatives of the agriculture and food industry, slaughterhouses, the food trade and consumers also take part in the meeting at Klöckner. The Cartel Office, animal rights activists and veterinarians are also invited. The hosts are also the ministers of agriculture from North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, Ursula Heinen-Esser and Barbara Otte-Kinast (both CDU).

Klöckner explained in advance that readjustment of animal husbandry in Germany was necessary. More animal welfare, better prices and fair working conditions are necessary. Meat and sausages are often too cheap.

Hofreiter demands “more transparency”

Greens Group leader Anton Hofreiter called for a “fundamental change in the entire chain”. “Better laws, targeted funding and more transparency are needed”. Hofreiter accused Klöckner of inviting her to a “mere show event” from which “apart from beautiful confessions” little could be expected. The minister was “miles away” from non-partisan, overall social solutions.

“Thousands of people infected with corona in the slaughterhouses, miserable working and living conditions, suffering animals and people who are angry because they have to suffer the consequences of this policy: The Minister of Agriculture does not seem to have grasped the seriousness of the situation,” said the Greens- Group leader.

DGB board member Piel appealed to the federal government to implement the envisaged reforms in the meat industry “quickly and legally.” The federal government wants the work contracts to be prohibited in slaughterhouses. Only employees of their own farm should be allowed to slaughter and cut animals. A cabinet decision provides for the work contracts to be banned from January 1, 2021. Federal Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD) wants to prefer this.

“Nothing happened”

Piel also warned of “smoke candles” from individual meat manufacturers who have announced that they will voluntarily renounce contracts for work. “There have been enough announcements and promises – but nothing has happened,” she said. Nothing can ignore a legal regulation against work contracts. “This is the only way to get a handle on the problems that have arisen from years of abuse,” emphasized the trade unionist.

However, the Union faction raised doubts about the prohibition of contracts for work. To want to ban these contracts only in one branch is “constitutionally very questionable”, said faction vice Gitta Connemann (CDU) of the “NOZ”. The instrument is also used in many other industries.