Around 850 workers from Animex will soon find themselves redundant following the implementation of a large-scale restructuring programme, which will leave just 50 operatives at the ailing meat plant in Rawa. The company, owned by US group Smithfield Foods, was keen to stress that those leaving had received generous severance packages. Company chairman, Richard Poulson, admitted that the programme has been given a three-month stay of execution and that he hopes the government will take action soon to cut down the operations of illegal meat plants in the country.