Lean Meats Oamaru has reduced the number of proposed job losses from an initial toll of close to 100 to 65 after discussions with workers.
New Zealand Meat Workers Union national secretary Daryl Curran said the employers have also agreed to extend by two days the two-week period of consultation before a final decision on job losses is made at the plant, which processes ovine, goats and bobby calves.
Chinese-owned BX Foods operates the Oamaru plant.
BX Food managing director, Haoran Wang says the restructuring comes after a difficult 18 months and is needed to ensure the long term sustainability of the business.
Following consultation with employees and engagement with the NZ Meat Workers Union, it is proposed to shed 65 jobs, more than 20 less than initially proposed.
“We understand that this restructuring will affect not only our employees but also their families.”
Wang says he has been heartened by the number of local and regional businesses who have offered roles to impacted employees.
Curran said recent capital expenditure and reduced stock numbers has caused the company to cut costs.
About half those who will potentially lose their jobs are migrants on work visas, attracted here by the promise of three years’ employment.
Sorting out their status and their visas will be complicated, he said.
Immigration NZ and Work and Income NZ will be on site in the coming weeks to assist those workers who may lose their jobs.
In Focus Podcast | Meat processors take stock as flock numbers fall
Senior reporter Neal Wallace says there are big challenges ahead for the red meat sector as it grapples with lower stock numbers and over-capacity. One processor in Oamaru has already laid off staff and Neal says there may be more rationalisation to come.
He also discusses the ongoing push to get more rural GPs trained and working in our communities.
