Meatworks production to change from midnight tonight
The way Victorian meat processing plants operate will change as of midnight tonight. Here’s what we know.
VICTORIAN meatworks with more than 25 staff members will be required to reduce workforce numbers by 33 per cent from midnight tomorrow.
The Weekly Times understands businesses can calculate the 33 per cent reduction off either a consecutive three month average or the average number of workers in July 2020, whichever number is higher.
The restrictions will affect abattoirs processing beef, pork and lamb, along with small goods manufactures, as well as poultry processors with more than 25 employees.
Addressing the media today, Premier Daniel Andrews said the State Government was working with industry to enact all changes by midnight tomorrow.
“ … I can confirm that we will land final arrangements by midnight tomorrow night that will see red meat … will go down to 66 per cent,” Mr Andrews said.
“ So, two-thirds of their operation, based on their operations last month, or based on their staff numbers over a three month continuous period at some other time in the year.”
A number of contradictory comments have caused confusion for the red meat industry in recent days.
Earlier this week Mr Andrews said the 33 per cent reduction to the workforce was based on numbers as of last week, not peak capacity.
But the Premier said yesterday peak capacity was “more than 100 per cent”, with the aim to reduce workforce numbers as much as possible.
Today Mr Andrews said the reduction would come from staff numbers, “and we’ll also make sure we thin out shifts as much as we can”.
“I don’t think they’ll have to work longer shifts … they will be producing less. But I don’t want people to think there’ll be empty shelves,” Mr Andrews said.
There are 120 meat processing facilities and about 45 seafood processing facilities in Victoria.
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