Tönnies meat factory faces calls for fair labor standards, sparked by an outbreak, as Aldi demands improved working conditions.

Regional Updates from Oldenburg

, and Administrator

2025 August 28 . 9:08 AM

2 min read

Tönnies factory faces calls for ethical labor standards following the outbreak

Tönnies meat factory faces calls for fair labor standards, sparked by an outbreak, as Aldi demands improved working conditions.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak at the Toennies slaughterhouse in Rheda-Wiedenbrueck, Germany, which affected over 1,400 employees, primarily from Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria, questions about the supermarket giant Aldi's commitment to fair labor practices have surfaced.

Aldi, known for its push towards the production of goods under humane and fair working conditions, has repeatedly emphasised the importance of observing labor and social standards in the meat industry. However, a thorough search of available information has yielded no explicit public data or announcements on Aldi's current labor and social standards imposed on its meat industry suppliers specifically following the Toennies outbreak.

While it is known that Aldi's retail staff wages are competitive, with entry-level workers earning £13 per hour nationally as of September 2025, this pertains to Aldi’s own employees and not its suppliers. There is no mention in the search results of Aldi's policies or changes in standards related to meat suppliers' labor conditions or social responsibility measures following the Toennies outbreak.

The broader meat industry, including companies like JBS, has faced criticism over labor and environmental violations historically, but no connection to Aldi’s supplier standards is specified in these results. Industry-wide or public programs promoting labor and social standards exist, such as New York City’s Good Food Purchasing Program, but no evidence ties Aldi to such programs or indicates Aldi requires suppliers to comply with enhanced labor/social standards post-Toennies outbreak.

In response to the outbreak, Aldi North and South announced new inspections of slaughterhouses and demanded consequences. Aldi South also required companies to adapt their hygiene concepts. An email shared the details of the new measures and inspections being implemented by Aldi South in response to the coronavirus outbreak at the Toennies slaughterhouse.

However, the specifics of these measures in relation to labor and social standards remain unclear. For a comprehensive understanding of Aldi's supplier labor standards, particularly post-Toennies, one might consider consulting Aldi’s official corporate responsibility or supplier code of conduct documentation directly on their corporate website or through labor rights watchdogs.

Meanwhile, authorities in East Westphalia imposed significant restrictions on public life in the affected districts, adding to the challenges faced by the industry and the workers within it. The ongoing situation underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in ensuring fair labor practices across the supply chain.