Situation in Bernard Matthews factory in the UK

6.2.2007

ORAL QUESTION H-0106/07
for Question Time at the part-session in March 2007
pursuant to Rule 109 of the Rules of Procedure
by Joel Hasse Ferreira
to the Commission

Portuguese workers from the UK turkey producer at the centre of an outbreak of bird flu say they were not informed about the infection.  It appears that Bernard Matthews's workers were not offered vaccinations to protect them against the virus until several days after the outbreak emerged.  Along with this serious public health case, the workers fear for their jobs and their labour rights.

 

Following the growing worries regarding workers’ rights, and the constant rise of recruitment of workers from abroad by employers that recruit them directly from the home country and rely on agencies to do the same, or use other agencies that rely on workers from abroad already resident in Britain, and following several examples of disrespect of workers’ rights within the European Union, in areas where gang labour is commonly used, is the Commission working to guarantee that enforceable social and labour provisions are going to be taken in this case?

 

 

Tabled: 06.02.2007

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