TD warns of push to replace Irish workers

A CORK TD has warned that job cuts in Dawn Meats Midleton factory could be part of an industry-wide push to replace Irish workers with cheap foreign labour.

Labour’s spokesperson on agriculture and food Sean Sherlock said industry sources had expressed concern that a trend was developing within the sector whereby Brazilian and South American workers are being hired instead of Irish.

He said he had recently been contacted by a boner in the meat industry who could not get work, even though employers were hiring foreign workers.