Model for both production and anti-epidemic purposes

From 0:00 on July 13, Long An province asked to suspend the operation of businesses that did not arrange '3 on-site policy' (producing, eating and resting at worlplace). A series of businesses in this province have responded. Similarly, enterprises in Ho Chi Minh city quickly implemented "3 on-site policy" as the request of the authority. In Dong Thap province, the requirement is also applied from July 14, while applied in Tien Giang province from July 15.

1. “Anti-epidemic is the number 1 priority”

In Long An province, many delegations led by provincial leaders went to local industrial parks with large number of workers to talk and call for cooperation.

In discussion with businesses in Industrial Parks in Long An - Secretary of the Long An Provincial Party Committee - remind the spirit of "fighting epidemic like fighting enemy", and asked enterprises to absolutely implement essential measures according to the requirements of both isolation and production as guideline documents.

According to the instructions given by the Management Board of the Economic Zone of Long An Province, the organization of "3 on-site policy" must ensure conditions such as the location of the concentrated accommodation must meet the necessary criteria for the operation including epidemic prevention and control, creating favorable conditions for employees to live in production area.

Above all, the current production must have a consensus between the employer and the employee when implementing the "3 on-site" option, in which workers staying at the gathering place must be tested and have negative result for COVID-19 prior to entry.

Enterprises that have implemented "3 on-site" must sign a commitment to ensure the implementation of safety measures for preventing and controling the epidemic and register with management units and localities for assessment. After signed commitment, businesses must be responsible for epidemic spread during their operation.

More specifically, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Thanh - Head of the Management Board of Long An Economic Zone - said that the concentrated accommodation arranged by the enterprise can be established at workplace, based on the conversion of functions from the office, workshop, etc.

"The temporary accommodation can be arranged in motels and hotels, but must absolutely be arranged for employees of only one enterprise, not accepting any employee of other companies in one place."

The concentrated accommodation must be controlled from the entrances by means of a camera system connected to the local information system for coordination in monitoring; is notified with a sign "Not tresspassing"; is fully provided with food, essential utensils, disinfection points, disinfectant solutions, etc.

The accommodation must also meet the division into disinfection areas, kitchen areas, common toilet areas, clothes drying areas, garbage collection areas, etc. and the rooms must have doors and windows to bring in natural light. The average usable area of each room must not be less than 10m2 and the average usable area must be at least 5m2 per person.

2. All enterprises try their best to prevent Covid

Right in the first two days of implementation, 362 enterprises sent the "3 on-site" plan to the delegations of Long An province for appraisal. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Thanh said that in general, in the plan of enterprises, there are reductions of 50-60% of personnel which is required to arrange the "3 on-site" option.

For example, at facility 1 of a textile company in Duc Hoa Ha commune, Duc Hoa district, the company actively reduced its employees down to one third, from more than 600 workers to only about 200 workers.

To carry out "3 on-site policy", this company has convert a workshop to accommodation for male workers and another office for female workers. Each worker is provided with a mat, blanket, pillow, personal mosquito net and electric fan to rest and sleep over.

In addition to the dining area which has been built as additional partition on the table to ensure separation among people and people when eating, the company also built a series of temporary bathrooms, curtains, and separate faucets in each room to avoid workers in contact together.

A human resources director of this company said: "This model of blankets and mat partly learns through example from Bac Giang province. Reducing personnel is “a must” to protect the company at this time, so we also agreed early and ensured the benefits for workers who were in work-cut list."

3. Enterprises in Ho Chi Minh do not wait for being forced

In Ho Chi Minh City, without waiting for the City People's Committee to issue an "ultimatum" to tighten epidemic prevention measures in production and business, many enterprises have actively applied "3 on-site" past few days.

Many other enterprises also actively prepared to set up concentrated accommodation and transport workers with the option "only 1 road to 2 locations" to be able to maintain production despite narrow scale from July 14.

A company in Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone (District 7, Ho Chi Minh) has put into operation the production and living on-site process in closed loop in the factory from July 8th with 112/230 people. These are workers who have tested for COVID-19 and half of them have been vaccinated and agreed to do "3 on-site policy".

The company has provided all essential items such as pillows, blankets, towels, soap, tents and a mattress for anyone with back pain. In addition, the company also renovated the toilet area to make it into a bathroom, installed water heater, equipped with phone charging locations, and installed a vending machine for water.

A head of the company's administrative and human resources department said that she had equipped with anti-droplet masks, vitamin C, arranged drawing tables, snacks, etc. for employees to entertain and take rest after work.

This company has the advantage of having a large and separate area, so it can arrange accommodation for workers, with air conditioning maintained at 24-25oC in the resting area, taking care of 3 meals a day along with laundry service, so workers are guaranteed both physical and mental health. 

Source: Tuoi Tre Journal