Slaughterhouses in Ireland have come under fire for poor labour and health and safety conditions, exacerbated by the common practice of employment through agencies rather than directly by the meat processing companies themselves. The COVID-19 pandemic has also aggravated the situation of thousands of workers, many of whom are migrants coming from countries like Bulgaria, Latvia and Romania, and are forced to work in a dangerous and unsafe environment, and often subject to discrimination and exploitation.

In November 2020, the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) documented the experiences of 151 migrant workers in a report, which revealed a systemic culture of poor working conditions, with 60% of respondents indicating they had been injured at work, and 90% of employers not offering sick pay. In addition, the report pointed out shortcomings of the current work permit system, which makes it difficult for migrant workers to claim their rights and limits labour market mobility.

The MRCI, and trade unions like SIPTU, have been calling on the Irish Government to do more to address issues around employment, including ensuring a safe workplace and implementing a ban on agencies providing workers to the meat sector.

The Oireachtas is currently reviewing the issue of employment permits, with both meat industry and migrant representatives expected to appear before the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment on April 13, 2021.