XL Foods lays off 2,000 workers

The company whose beef processing plant has been at the centre of a massive recall has announced the temporary layoff of approximately 2,000 people.

XL Foods Inc. says the layoffs will be at its facility in Brooks, Alberta.

The facility has been idle since Sept. 27 while federal officials and the company deal with E. coli contamination that has made over a dozen people ill.

A company news release says its employees have been receiving full pay for the past three weeks.

But it says that since the Canadian Food Inspection Agency can't indicate when the plant will get its license back, the temporary layoffs are necessary.

The agency has approved a limited reopening but says no meat will leave the facility until it has approved a full reopening.

Brian Nilsson, co-CEO of XL, says getting employees back to work, as well as resuming processing, remain top priorities.