Meat processing companies will be committed in the coming period to protect their employees against infection with the corona virus and other health hazards. The meat sector promised this on Tuesday after a conversation with minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture), a spokesman for the minister confirms in conversation with NU.nl. The slaughterhouses must take measures themselves.
On Tuesday, Minister Schouten consulted with the Central Organization for the Meat Sector (COV) and other parties from the sector. The reason for the conversation was the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus among employees of the slaughterhouse of meat processor Vion in Groenlo. Of the 657 Vion employees, 147 (about 20 percent) tested positive for the virus.
According to Schouten’s spokesman, the consultation between the minister and the parties was an intense conversation in which Schouten once again pointed out to the representatives the seriousness of the situation. “The representatives have promised to pull out all the stops to improve the situation among meat processors,” she said.
The representatives and Schouten discussed, among other things, the way in which slaughterhouses deal with migrant workers. Slaughterhouses must demonstrate that the housing and transport of migrant workers is responsible. Many migrant workers live together and are taken to work with vans.
In addition, the sector is held accountable for animal welfare. The industry has to create scenarios in case work in slaughterhouses comes to a standstill.
All slaughterhouse employees are tested
According to the spokesperson, discussions will take place in the near future between the meat sector and a special team composed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. A large part of the employees of the Vion slaughterhouse are labor migrants from Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.
All personnel in the meat sector will be tested for the corona virus in the near future. Earlier on Tuesday it was already announced that all employees of the slaughterhouse in Groenlo have now been tested. About 10 percent of employees infected with the coronavirus appeared to have symptoms of illness, the Safety Region of North and East Gelderland (VNOG) reported.
NVWA and safety regions may close slaughterhouses if necessary
The spokesman cannot say how long the slaughterhouses will have time to get their things in order. However, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) always supervises and may decide to stop work in a meat processing company if it appears that employees cannot work safely there. The safety regions can also impose an area ban on employees. In that case, the slaughterhouse can be closed.
Even if it turns out that there are many infections at other slaughterhouses, additional measures can be taken by the NVWA and the ministries involved.
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