Pictured are Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen with shop steward Torben Lyngsø at Danish Crown in Ringsted (pictured left) and, in the middle, Kjeld Johannesen, Managing Director of Danish Crown.

Factory manager Leif Brøndum Nielsen (pictured left) showing SF’s chairman Villy Søvndal (centre) and town councillor Brian Pedersen around the slaughterhouse in Sæby.

But that was not all he said. The Prime Minister was visiting the plant to hear what the employees thought about the Danish government’s handling of the financial crisis.

One of the general questions they discussed was how to ensure employment in Danish production and exports when the wages abroad are so low in comparison. The prime minister openly admitted that he didn’t know what the answer was, but said it is something which needs to be addressed by both businesses and politicians.

Prime Minister Rasmussen indicated that he is well aware how uncertain a time it is for production employees, but at the same time he praised Danish Crown for the efforts which the company has made to find new jobs for those made redundant.

Villy Søvndal pays a visit to the slaughter line

Danish Crown in Sæby also had a visiting politician today. On Tuesday afternoon, the chairman of the Danish Socialist People’s Party (SF), Villy Søvndal, visited the slaughterhouse in Sæby.

Heading a delegation of local party politicians, including the Danish MPs Pernille Vigsø Bagge and Karl Bornhøft, Villy Søvndal learned about Danish Crown’s operating conditions and challenges from deputy chairman of the Board of Directors Erik Bredholt, NNF shop steward Karsten Thomsen and factory manager Leif Brøndum Nielsen.

The visit also included a tour of the slaughter line.

"It was fascinating to see what happens in the real world and to hear what an industrial enterprise needs," said Villy Søvndal.