SLAVE LABOUR IN EUROPE

See the report of cases of Portuguese workers

Listen to the witnesses statements of cases in Holland, Ireland, Belgium

SLAVERY EXISTS IN THE UK TODAY

"Migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to slavery and exploitation". Read the Joseph Rowtree Foundation Report

DEFRA APPLIES FOR E.U. FUNDING

Defra confirmed this week that it had made a claim to the EU veterinary fund for the compensation paid to the company and the operating costs of tackling the outbreak.

COMPENSATING BERNARD MATTHEWS

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IN 1833

The Bishop of Exeter and three business colleagues were paid nearly £13,000 to compensate them for the loss of 665 slaves in 1833.

TIGHTER SANCTIONS FOR BREACHING HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS

Following events at Bernard Matthews Hungary legislates. At cee-foodindustry.com

BIRD FLU MEASURES LIFTED

The last restrictions on the Bernard Matthews plant in Suffolk - the centre of last month's bird flu outbreak - have been lifted. BBC

BRITISH MEPs PUZZLED WITH BERNARD MATTHEWS PLANS AND CONCERNED WITH HUMAN COST TO WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

As reported in Norwish Evening news 24

Richard Howitt MEP said today: “The human cost of these lay-offs is deeply distressing for many families in the county. We need to provide all the help and assistance they need.“It seems shocking it is announcing multi-million pound market plans and receiving about £1m of public funds from Europe for compensation. Workers are being treated in an appalling way.”

Norwich North MP Dr Ian Gibson said: “This plan seems incongruous to me. I would like to know what this strategy is all about because I cannot understand why the company is doing this when staff are being laid off.”

DTI: BERNARD MATTHEWS "BEST PRACTICE EMPLOYER"

The systems it now has in place led the DTI to describe Bernard Matthews as "a best practice employer"

HEALTH PROTECTION AGENCY ON BERNARD MATTHEWS WORKERS

A small number of workers who are involved in the cleaning and decontamination process are continuing to take antiviral medications. HPA

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?

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.

FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY

What is the FSA?

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Bernard Matthews plant investigated for responsibility of bird flu spread, news report

UPDATE ON BIRD FLU

Government's position

PUBLIC REGULATION

In cases of outbreaks of bird flu does the Department of Health send specialists to companies to deal with the potentially infected animals or is this the responsibility of the employees?