Government faces calls to implement recommendations on the management of the Covid-19 pandemic in meat plants

66 staff at the ABP meat plant in Bandon have tested positive for Covid-19

SIPTU says there hasn't been action on the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee recommendations on mandatory sick pay for the sector, as well as 24 hour testing and compliance officers.

Over 100 workers at facilities nationwide have tested positive for the virus in recent days including 66 staff at the ABP meat plant in Bandon 

ABP say the plant is operating at a 'significantly reduced' capacity and has implemented measures to minimise the spread of the virus since the start of the pandemic. 

SIPTU Manufacturing Organiser Greg Ennis says there needs to be action to stop the spread of the virus:

"Because of the new transmissible variant people are extremely concerned about these developments. So, you know, the Oireachtas committee have made the recommendations and the government hasn't enacted and it's not good enough that the Tanaiste Leo Varadkar would suggest that we would have sick pay on a statutory basis by the end of 2021. He needs to act now, when it came to cutting the minimum wage, the government could act practically overnight. Why can't we act to bring in sick pay for workers in these essential industries now?"