Meat company’s China exports still suspended
An Oamaru meat company which has been suspended from exporting goods to China is still waiting for Chinese authorities to respond to a request to lift the suspension, but some of those left out of work have managed to pick up employment elsewhere.
A Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) spokesperson said the department had not heard back from Chinese authorities and confirmed the suspension had not been lifted.
‘‘We notified them of the findings of our investigation at this meat establishment and the corrective action being taken by the establishment. We’re still awaiting a response from the Chinese authorities.’’
About 160 staff were left without work after the operation, owned by Chinese company BX Foods, was forced to suspend operations in September after packaging breaches of its product were found in China.
The suspension only applies to Oamaru Meats Limited (formerly Lean Meats), and does not apply to exports from any other New Zealand meat establishments that export to China, the spokesperson said.
Alliance Group’s Pukeuri plant, which employs more than 1000 people, has recruited at least 40 of the 160 Oamaru Meats workers who were left in limbo, its plant manager Phil Shuker said.
‘‘Alliance has recently taken on around 40 staff ... and they have fitted into the team well,’’ Shuker said.
‘‘We know this is a difficult time for those employees affected and we are happy to provide them with employment opportunities. Alliance has also recruited a number of students for the November February season.’’
Last month, Oamaru Meats said it was hopeful the meat export ban to China would end soon.
At the time, Oamaru Meats director Richard Thorp said the company was in a ‘‘temporary production shutdown’’.
‘‘Oamaru Meats is a seasonal business and all our meat workers operate on a seasonal contract and we have seasonally laid off 160 workers,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s an unfortunate situation. It has been reported to us that a number of our workers have found other employment so we’re pleased about that. We’ll be in contact with our staff regularly and provide them regular updates.’’
Thorp said he did not know how long the suspension would last, but it had ‘‘nothing to do with food safety’’.