Sacked meatworkers rehired for more work

Hundreds of Wanganui meat workers are being rehired less than a month after they were laid off, but their jobs will only be safe as long as there is livestock for them to process.

Affco is hoping to re-employ all 280 nightshift workers from its Imlay plant in Gonville following a surprise influx of lambs, the Wanganui Chronicle reported.

The staff were laid off after the chain was shut down at the beginning of March.

Plant manager Shaun O'Neill said work would kick into action from next Thursday,

Mr O'Neill said last year's drought in the region had left a huge hole in terms of stock numbers.

The chain will be working at full capacity from next week, but Mr O'Neill is unsure how long the nightshift would continue this time.

"For as long as the farmers can keep us supplied, I suppose."

The company hoped to rehire all of the laid-off staff by next week.

The Imlay plant prepares lamb and mutton for export and employs 650 staff in peak periods.

- NZPA