Salmon scandal: Report’s shocking claims over Mowi fish factory conditions

A major report into working conditions at the world’s biggest salmon producer has revealed shocking claims.

Norwegian firm Mowi has around 1,000 workers at its plant in Rosyth, but an investigation by the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union outlines health and safety concerns.

Their report, denied by Mowi, alleges a dire lack of toilets and washing facilities, timed seven-minute toilet breaks and a canteen with inadequate seating where workers are forced to eat standing-up during half hour breaks.

The union accuses Mowi of failing to follow Health and Safety Executive advice and using an unelected committee which fails to proactively drive forward safety improvements.

The report lists prolonged working in almost freezing temperatures without adequate protection, manual handling practices which risk injury, and concern over the firm’s sickness policies.

Mowi describes the claims as “false and misleading”.

It said: “We take ethical employment, including the safety and wellbeing of our workforce, extremely seriously.

“We undergo regular unannounced audits by independent third parties to verify this.”

Mowi denies toilet breaks are timed and say they “operate standard procedures in a processing plant.”

The firm said: “Our compliance and practices are under constant review, checked internally and through regular independent external third-party audits.

“We have robust safety management practices in place. All roles and activities are risk-assessed by both qualified health and safety professionals and occupational health experts, and all advice provided by them is implemented.”

Mowi say they have safety reps representing employees’ interests, and insist they have an “enhanced” sickness scheme.

But BFAWU are calling on the Health and Safety Executive to carry out unannounced visits and an investigation into “hazardous handling practices”.

Workers have alleged that management have been “made aware” of supposedly unannounced visits and claim strenuous efforts are made to clean the place up before these happen.

One said: “There have been many times when workers have been left wading up to their ankles in blood and fish guts, but supermarket reps or inspectors never get to see that, or the salmon deformed by breeding practices and covered in fish lice. There are two production lines going constantly, processing two tons of fish an hour. It’s extremely arduous work, often for minimum wage, in freezing conditions. It’s little wonder Mowi struggle keeping staff. Huge numbers of the Rosyth workforce come from Africa or the Far East.”

General Secretary Sarah Woolley said: “Every worker should feel their health, safety and well-being is a central priority of their employer, but we found our members are not treated with the respect and dignity every worker deserves.

“We hope our report acts as a wake-up call.”

BFAWU say the company’s senior management, including global CEO Ivan Veindheim, have refused to engage with the union despite “many attempts” in direct contrast to public statements made by Mowi.

The firm insist it has “entered into collective bargaining agreements with trade unions at sites across other parts of the world.”

BFAWU Scottish organiser Mark McHugh said: “Contrary to their self congratulatory proclamations about how much they respect human rights, no adult should be told when to go to the toilet, if they can go and how long they can go for.

“We want to engage constructively with Mowi to help make improvements to the terms and conditions of workers at Rosyth, and while small improvements have been made as a result of the work we have carried out, much more still needs to be done.”

Fife MSP Alex Rowley said: “I have visited Mowi to raise concerns from my constituents over conditions at their Rosyth plant. I found the firm to be defensive, and staff frightened to speak out which is telling and unacceptable for a modern workforce.”

William’s story

My spine went into agonising spasm. I left in a wheelchair

William Madley, 61, faces a bleak future after being sacked by Mowi after he suffered a spinal injury at their Rosyth plant.

The Kirkcaldy man, who stands 6ft 4ins tall, claims being bent over a freezing fish processing line for up to 12 hours a day left him having to take high-strength painkillers just to keep working.

William said: “The processing line was too low for me. I was forced to hold my body at a 45-degree angle to push salmon weighing up to 12 kilos through a machine every two or three seconds.

“Despite the awkward angle and freezing conditions, I had to remain bent over to get through long shifts.

“There was no respite as there were never enough seats in the canteen. It’s built for 500 people, but the workforce is now double that. I lost count of the times I had to eat standing up.

“Just to do my job I had to take increasingly stronger painkillers.

“Three years into the job, my spine went into an agonising spasm. I was wheeled out of the plant in a wheelchair.”

On his return, William asked Mowi to adapt his working conditions to alleviate strain on his spine. But he claims although management made promises, he was soon back lifting 25-kilo weights.

William said: “I was moved to another section, but staff shortages meant I was back doing heavy lifting.

“Mowi supply Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Lidl and Ocado with all kinds of salmon dishes. Bags of ingredients weigh 25 kilos and label rolls weighed 20 kilos and the production line is kept moving.

“I often had to work without the correct protective gloves. Gloves that were too small left me unable to feel my hands.

“Salmon have teeth and spines. They require careful handling. The correct gloves are essential, but I often had to fight to get the sizes I needed.

“It was a constant fight for the correct protective clothing to safely do the job.”

Within months of returning to work, William was forced to take more time off.

Hospital tests identified grade one degenerative spondylolisthesis, displaced vertebrae pressing on nerves and the spinal cord leading to chronic pain, affecting balance as well as bladder and bowel function. He now requires surgery to alleviate the constant pain.

Mowi dismissed William on June 19, and Patrick McGuire, senior partner at Thompsons Solicitors Scotland said: “We believe Mr Madley suffered considerable injury through his work.

“This is an industry which, over the years, has come in for significant criticism in relation to staff safety.”

Mowi said: “While we won’t comment on any specific case, our consistent approach is to do all we can to support our employees at work. Should health become a concern, we always seek specialist advice from qualified occupational health professionals before working with the employee to agree the most appropriate course of action.”

See thompsons-scotland.co.uk