Advertisement

Germany reports 657 new coronavirus cases linked to slaughterhouse

Click to play video: 'Coronavirus:  How the pandemic has changed the future of meat processing plants'
Coronavirus: How the pandemic has changed the future of meat processing plants
WATCH: How the pandemic has changed the future of meat processing plants – Jun 14, 2020

A German labour union called Thursday for an end to the practice of using subcontractors in Germany’s meat industry, after a fresh outbreak of COVID-19 sickened hundreds at one of the country’s biggest slaughterhouses.

Authorities in the western region of Guetersloh said Wednesday that at least 657 people at the Toennies Group plant in Rheda-Wiedenbrueck had tested positive for the virus.

“It’s no coincidence that the Toennies slaughterhouse has become the next hotspot of coronavirus infections,” said Freddy Adjan, the deputy chairman of the NGG union that represents workers in the food and drinks industry.

Adjan said workers employed by subcontractors face “catastrophic working and living conditions.”

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Following a series of earlier coronavirus clusters at abattoirs, the German government pledged to crack down on the practice of subcontracting by the end of the year, though some lawmakers have warned this could result in jobs being moved abroad.

Story continues below advertisement
Click to play video: 'Coronavirus outbreak: WHO says ‘extreme vigilance’ needed in exit from lockdowns'
Coronavirus outbreak: WHO says ‘extreme vigilance’ needed in exit from lockdowns

“This sick system needs to finally end,” Adjan said. “The government’s decision that includes a ban on contract work needs to be fully implemented in the legislative process.”

Toennies has said the outbreak could be linked to recent travel by workers, especially from Eastern Europe, after borders started to reopen.

But experts questioned whether such a large outbreak — resulting in more cases than the entire country normally reports in a day — could have been caused by travel alone.

“The working conditions in slaughterhouses doesn’t seem to be very compatible with the currently required hygiene measures,” said Isabella Eckerle, who heads the centre for emerging viral diseases at the University of Geneva.

Story continues below advertisement

“In my view the large number of (infected) employees indicates an undetected `super-spreading event’ in the company that has been going on for some time,” she said.

Sponsored content

AdChoices