AQW 5275/17-22


Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim


Tabled Date: 26/06/2020
Answered On Date: 06/07/2020
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, in relation to workers for whom English is not their first language, what supportive measures his Department is introducing to ensure good communication on COVID-19 prevention in agri-food workplaces.


Answer:
Thank you for your question regarding Departmental support measures in relation to Agri – Food sector workers for whom English is not their first language to ensure good communication on COVID-19 prevention within the workplace.
Firstly, I would like to thank you for recognising the contribution that workers of all backgrounds are making to the agri-food industry and the challenges they face at this difficult time.
In response to, and from the outset of this crisis, my Department has engaged with the relevant industry bodies, individual Food Business Operators (FBOs), Health and Safety Executive NI (HSENI) and the Public Health Agency (PHA) through a series of regular meetings. The principal objective of these meetings and associated communications is to ensure that the industry as a whole, and individual FBOs in particular, are familiar with and implementing the latest PHA guidance which is primarily aimed at ensuring a safe working environment for all personnel and minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace.
Recognising and acknowledging the diverse nature of the workforce, a significant proportion for whom English is not their first language, officials from HSENI & PHA have repeatedly emphasised to FBOs the importance of clear and concise communication, both verbal and non-verbal, in all required languages to enable and ensure adherence to all public health guidance.
These fora also provide attendees with the opportunity to engage with officials regarding the measures to be taken to ensure the safety of all staff during the pandemic and obtain any clarification required around effective communication channels and strategies. In addition, HSENI, as the enforcement authority have strategically rolled out a series of unannounced inspections across the meat processing sector to verify compliance with all relevant public health guidance.