German Meat Industry under COVID-19 Crisis

: On “Organized Irresponsibility”

Abstract

Travel destinations and restaurants are often the focus of attention because of the rampant spread of COVID-19 in these areas. However, the workplace is perhaps even more critical. In a certain structure, workers are forced to go to work despite the risk of infection for fear of income decrease, employment loss, and long-term crowding. This is considered especially true for workers with a weak bargaining power.

The German meat industry is a clear example of this problem. Since April 2020, the infection has spread rapidly in meat factories, and “organized irresponsibility” has been specified as a major factor. That is, many workers are procured from Eastern European countries through contracts, and the widespread use of these contracts obscures the responsibility for infection control. Contracting has received criticism for some time, but during the COVID-19 crisis, it became the focus of public opinion. Hence, from 2021, a law banning contracting in the meat industry was enacted. This study uses these as materials to clarify how labor problems develop uniquely during the COVID-19 crisis.