Abattoir workers at risk

The Labour Party's spokesman on agriculture and fisheries, Noel Farrugia, said it was unacceptable that workers at the civil abattoir continued to perform their work in fear of being injured during the slaughter of pigs.

He said equipment for the purpose should have been installed six weeks after works had started but four months have already passed and the line is still not functioning.

This was detrimental to the employees who are carrying out the slaughter in restricted space which posed certain danger.

In fact, Mr Farrugia added, at least half of the workers at the section had been involved in some kind of incident. A few days ago a worker was seriously injured when he was hit by a hook.