Agri-Business
EFFAT said proposals for the CAP post-2027 are weak in terms of budget and goals and fail to make the agriculture sector more attractive.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) issued 372 work permits to the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector in May.
The number of people employed in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector increased by around 9% in Q4 of 2023.
Dairy News
Workers at a UHT milk processing plant in Northern Ireland, owned by Lakeland Dairies, have voted unanimously in favour of strike action.
The number of people working in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector stood at 82,228 last year, according to Census 2022.
FRS Farm Relief is to hire over 300 additional workers to meet a growing demand for farm labour in the next 12 months.
SIPTU has said that statutory sick pay legislation is a "small step in the right direction" when it comes to meat factory workers.
Over 60 inspections were carried out in the agriculture and meat processing sectors in 2021, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) said.
SIPTU has said it is "appalled but not surprised" by an Garda-led operation targeting the employment of illegal immigrants at a meat factory.
Meat Industry Ireland has strongly refuted claims made by the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland regarding employment and safety practices.
Many meat industry employers are "putting profit before the health and safety of workers" with "dangerous working conditions", the MRCI says.
Pig/Poultry
Carton Brothers - the firm behind the Manor Farm brand - has outlined its position regarding personal protective equipment (PPE).
A total of 272 work permits were issued to workers from outside the EEA to work in meat processing companies during March and April 2020.
Beef
Minister Creed has confirmed that he and his department are aware of six clusters of Covid-19 in beef plants.
Beef processors have revealed that some of their factory personnel that were laid off in recent weeks will not be returning to work.
Management at Dawn Meats Grannagh has issued a formal lay-off notice to a number of its staff, blaming the "current situation".
Over 150 workers employed in a meat plant have been purportedly laid off temporarily amid ongoing farmer protests, according to reports.
Meat processors have wasted no time in applying for workers from non-EEA countries under the pilot scheme implemented this year.
Computer systems just ‘tip of the ice-berg’ for workers at Kerry Group’s Listowel plant as a campaign of industrial action gets underway.
Rural Life
Irish dairy farming is facing a critical shortage of trained workers to meet the targets of 2020 and Foodwise 2025.
