Divisional Organiser SIPTU Greg Ennis told politicians at the Special Oireachtas Committee on Covid-19 that they must walk a tightrope every day and attend work even if they are unwell.
He claimed that the practice of "hot bedding" is taking place among meat plant workers. He said he had been advised in recent days that up to 40 migrant meat plant workers are sharing rooms/accommodation in a certain town in Offaly. Independent TD for Clare Michael McNamara said the work permits issue will be discussed during the committee's meeting with meat industry and trade union representatives later today.
Asked if he is concerned about issues including work permit limitations, he told RTÉ some workers are "very much tied to a single employer almost like a serfdom situation. "We'll also be bringing in the Health and Safety Authority, whose responsibility is to inspect meat plants, to find out what exactly they've been doing.
"Yet those countries which have had outbreaks have occurred continue to open their hospitality sector. The first session will involve SIPTU, ICTU and the Independent Workers' Union's view of meat processing plants work practices between 10am and 12.30pm. The organisation will say that the recent outbreak has resulted in a rush to "blame and complain" that nothing has been done to prevent the spread of the virus in an industrial setting.
It will say that the additional screening proposals announced by the Government can only work if there is advanced communication of screening protocols, if test results are returned within 24 hours, and if there is an effective test and trace system.
He will say they believed that the industry was insufficiently prepared to deal with an unfolding public health crisis. Spokesperson for the 'Zero-Covid Island' group, Anthony Staines, professor of health systems at Dublin City University, will outline steps on how Ireland can move to a zero-Covid policy.According to Mr Staines, the virus can be reduced to zero cases per day in between four and six weeks.