The ICSA has called on supermarkets and other retailers to face up to the impact of cheap food prices and the impact they have on farmers and meat factory workers.

“The current COVID crisis in meat and food processing plants is another example of how pressure for lower prices is being facilitated by processors on the back of appalling exploitation of farmers and workers,” ICSA president Edmond Phelan said.

“Last year’s beef factory protests and this year’s focus on poor conditions of employment for meat plant workers are two sides of the same coin.”

He said it was time for an EU-wide dialogue on how the Farm to Fork strategy could begin with fairness.

“Processors need to cop on and stop facilitating supermarket demands which can only be satisfied by screwing farmers and workers,” he said.

“I am calling on the Taoiseach to admit that supermarket giants which have focused on unsustainably low prices for primary products are indirectly or directly responsible for appalling conditions of employment for meat factory workers, zero-hour contracts for retail staff and farmers losing money on supplying quality food. This cannot continue.”