"New law ends subcontracting in German meat sector", 15 December 2020

After years of campaigning, the IUF-affiliated NGG has succeeded in passing a new law through the German parliament which will end subcontracting in the meat sector. This important win comes after rights abuses as well as the low pay and poor work conditions suffered by migrant workers were exposed through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The law will go into effect on January 1, 2021. Its main items are:

• subcontracting in the meat sector is prohibited from January 1,2021
• companies may employ temporary workers up to a maximum of 8% as long as this is regulated through a collective bargaining agreement
• beginning April 1, 2021, the maximum time a worker can be a temporary employee is 4 months
• temporary and permanent employees must receive equal pay and equal treatment
• working time must be recorded digitally with fines for working time fraud doubling to 30,000 EUR
• minimum standards are set for workers’ accommodations

“Now, finally, there is an end to subcontracting. The Occupational Safety and Health Control Act is a good first step and a fresh start toward a future without scandal and exploitation in the meat industry.” said NGG President and IUF Vice President Guido Zeitler.