Does the health crisis spell the end of subcontracting in the meat industry

For some years now, the German authorities have been aware of the “excesses” of the meat industry. In the context of the health crisis, the draft law of July 29, 2020, to bolster labor inspections marks a change in the federal government’s approach and ramps up the pressure on businesses in the sector. It aims to increase the frequency of labor inspections and to prohibit subcontracting and temporary employment in businesses with fifty or more employees. This prohibition is likely to shake up hiring practices and to affect the economic model of the sector. This article aims to shed light on the origins of this draft law, which has since been passed on December 18, 2020.