THEY DO NOT KNOW IF THEY WILL HAVE JOBS TO RETURN TO

Some 165 staff have been laid off by the company in the past fortnight, mostly from its Great Witchingham units.

Now, a European-funded programme called Response to Redundancy is being put in place to help them with advice, training, CVs and job applications. A task force from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) is likely to be set up specifically to deal with the layoffs at Bernard Matthews. Reports the local paper

What will the E. Commission say?

2007 BERNARD MATTHEWS H5N1 OUTBREAK

In Wikipedia

SPECIAL REPORT: BIRD FLU IN THE UK

In the Daily Mail

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

The interim report into the outbreak of the deadly H5N1 virus shines a light on the horrifying reality of factory farming in Britain.

The investigation has involved officials from the Government's food and farming department Defra, the State Veterinary Service, the Food Standards Agency, the Health Protection Agency and the Meat Hygiene Service.
It is understood the MHS warned Bernard Matthews on several occasions about leaving the processing plant waste bins open.

BERNARD MATTHEWS CORPORATE LIABILITY

The poultry firm Bernard Matthews could be prosecuted under food safety laws after government inspectors reported a series of biosecurity failings at a plant in Suffolk that saw the UK's first major outbreak of H5N1 bird flu. Times online

BERNARD MATTHEWS AND THE UK EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME

6000 companies with Climate Change Agreements. These negotiated agreements between business and Government set energy-related targets. Companies meeting their targets receive an 80% discount from the Climate Change Levy, a tax on the business use of energy. These companies can use the scheme either to buy allowances to meet their targets, or to sell any over-achievement of these targets. Anyone can open an account on the registry to buy and sell allowances.

BERNARD MATTHEWS PRODUCTS AND THE GROWTH IN ORGANIC SALES

"High profile scares such as the avian influenza outbreak, have contributed to consumer confidence levels. The growth in sales of organic, free range and higher welfare food is partly a response to this change in confidence. THE REPORT BY THE INSTITUTE OF GROCERY DISTRIBUTION

MEP RICHARD HOWITT SAID

Labour MEP Richard Howitt said a task force will be set up in a European redundancy initiative to assist the Suffolk workers with re-training and advice. Reports the local paper

BERNARD MATTHEWS: MORE LAY OFFS?

A company spokesperson said: “It is too early say how many more staff will have to be laid off but we are continuing to work with the relevant unions and inform staff of any updates on the situation. Reports the local paper