Essential food processors take massive wage subsidies

Fri, 17 Apr 2020

Primary food processors deemed essential under government’s lockdown restrictions, have received wage subsidies totalling about $90 million.The Ministry of Social Development’s online tool, developed to promote transparency of payments under the scheme, shows that the two major meat companies account for a combined $77.7 million. Silver Fern Farms and Alliance Group have been paid subsidies of $43.3 million and $34.4 million respectively to supplement wages for a combined 11,000 workers. Blue Sky Meats was paid $2.4 million for its 34...

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