FDBusiness.com

The committee of union representatives in Danish Crown has presented a proposal to invest up to DKr600 million (Eur80.4 million) of the slaughterhouse workers’ pay in Danish pig production over the next four years. The proposal is designed to reverse the downward trend in the number of jobs at Danish Crown’s pig slaughterhouses by reestablishing the production of pigs for slaughter by the company’s members.

The initiative was taken by the committee of union representatives, and the proposal has been negotiated with the management of Danish Crown’s pork division, DC Pork.

“This is an admirable and very responsible step by the committee of union representatives. It also means that, for the first time in many years, we are looking towards a four-year period during which we will not be closing down pig slaughterhouses, and this is very positive. For this to happen, the proposal must, of course, generate the intended results, and secure a sufficient number of pigs for slaughter for us to utilise our capacity, says Jesper Friis, chief executive of DC Pork.

The aim of the proposal is to increase the production of pigs for slaughter by up to three million animals over the next four years. If realised, this will not only secure Danish workplaces, but lead to the creation of new jobs.

Investing the money will be conditional upon individual farmers actually being able to increase their production.

”It is a unique initiative which can create stability in the agricultural sector. With an investment fund like this, we are paving the way for some very necessary investments in pig production – investments which must be backed up by the farmers and the financial institutions. In fact, we are talking about investments in pig production to the tune of DKr 3 billion,” says Erik Bredholt, chairman of Danish Crown.

Over the next few weeks, the employees will be able to study the proposal in detail, followed by a vote before the end of the month.