800 foreign butcher called to work in British abattoirs
Great Britain is working hard to avoid a mass culling in pig farms, where almost 120,000 pigs are blocked creating a crisis for the sector. Farmers across Britain say a combination of Brexit and COVID-19 have sparked an exodus of east European workers from abattoirs and meat processors, leaving pigs to back up in barns and fields across the country.
Last week, Environment Secretary George Eustice said the temporary visas would address the problem which farmers said was putting livelihoods at risk and causing animal welfare issues.
"What we're going to do is allow butchers in abattoirs and meat processors dealing with pigs, to be able to come in on a temporary basis under the Seasonal Worker scheme for up to six months. That will help us to deal with the backlog of pigs that we currently have on farms to give those meat processors the ability to slaughter more pigs," said the official. The measure was welcomed by the National Pig Association, although there are many voices asking if the decision didn't come too late. "The critical thing is how quickly can we get those butchers over here? We just need them here as soon as possible," commented Tom Bradshaw, Vice President of the National Farmers Union. Last month, the British Government announced a plan to issue temporary visas for 5,000 foreign truck drivers and 5,500 poultry workers, as disruption in the supply chain across the kingdom threatens to turn into a crisis.
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