BERLIN, May 20 (Xinhua) -- From 2021 onwards, commercial slaughtering of animals and processing of meat in Germany would only be permitted to be carried out by the employees of the meatpacking plants themselves, Germany's Ministry of Labor said on Wednesday.
The use of subcontractors as well as labor leasing models would be prohibited for German companies with the main business in slaughtering and meat processing, according to the ministry.
"Better employment protection in the meat industry is urgently needed," said Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil. "The last few days have shown this once again."
After an accumulation of coronavirus infections in German slaughterhouses, there was criticism of working conditions in the German meat industry, as well as the use of large group accommodation facilities for subcontractors.
German employers in the meat industry would further be obliged to inform the authorities of the place of residence and employment of workers from abroad, which would allow "more effective controls," according to the ministry.
Fines for violations of working time regulations in Germany's meat industry would be doubled from 15,000 euros to 30,000 euros (16,487 U.S. dollars to 32,974 U.S. dollars).
A digital system would also be introduced for logging and controlling working hours. Enditem
