In addition to regulations on the form of "3 on the spot" and "one road, and two locations", enterprises propose other models, including priority in vaccination for employees.

Enterprises are currently facing many difficulties and inadequacies
in "3 on-site" production. Photo: NT

Loosening working conditions

The Department of Industry (Ministry of Industry and Trade) has just organized an online discussion with associations and enterprises in the processing and manufacturing industry to listen to and receive ideas to help businesses overcome difficulties during this difficult time implementing Directive 16, while maintaining production and business activities.

Accordingly, businesses said the biggest difficulty in deploying "3 on-site" is that their infrastructure is not qualified to meet pandemic prevention and control, and the implementation cost is high. In addition, the regulations and instructions of the relevant agencies are not specific and inconsistent, confusing businesses in the implementation process.

When seeing some inadequacies, instead of finding solutions to solve and support businesses, the provinces issued regulations to stop the "3 on-the-spot" model, affecting businesses that are eligible to deploy it.

Regarding the difficulty of implementing "3 on the spot", Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tung, Chairman and General Director of VINA T&T GROUP Company (an enterprise specializing in exporting fruit to the US, Canada, Japan and Australia) said that the raw material area is blocked and there is a large shortage of workers.

Business hours are now only from 6am to 6pm. Meanwhile, normally, businesses work from 3am to the raw material area, 6am to 7pm to bring the harvested products to the factory, working until about 10-12pm. The factory that normally processes about 200 tons of fruit per day is now only at 30-40% of its capacity.

“The enterprise wishes to carry out “3 on-site” production but is allowed to apply a longer working time. Provinces allow fruit harvesters to start working earlier than 6am. If the harvest is late, it will be transported to the factory at about 8-9 hours when the sun is up, the risk of damage is quite high. At the same time, it is recommended for the production team to return later than 6pm," said Mr. Tung.

A representative of the Department of Industry said, regarding regulations on the form of organization of production in conditions of both isolation and production, in addition to regulations, the enterprise proposes to supplement other forms for the selected enterprise.

Accordingly, there should be specific regulations for the case where employees can go home, have the commitment of the enterprise with the locality, the employee and the enterprise, and travel by personal means between the residence and the locality. Families, production and business establishments ensure the same safety measures as in the case of F1 self-isolating at home and moving along a fixed route without stopping along the road.

In addition, the enterprise proposes to supplement specific regulations in case the employee stops participating in "3 on the spot" and returns to their place of residence so that the employee can rest assured.

Prioritize vaccination for workers

In addition to "3 on-the-spot" production, many businesses suggested that there should be instructions for localities to develop production recovery scenarios and roadmaps corresponding to the development scenarios of the pandemic so that businesses can develop production recovery plans. The industry has an appropriate production plan.

In addition, there should be a process and deadline that local health authorities need to coordinate with businesses in separating F0 and F1 from the working environment so that businesses can soon stabilize production and ensure safety for employees. Other employees in the enterprise can rest assured to focus on their work.

The enterprise also proposes to add specific regulations on necessary conditions to allow the enterprise to resume operation corresponding to different scenarios (operating 30%, 50%, 70% capacity for the first time) up to 100% of capacity as before the pandemic, depending on the safety conditions of the enterprise and the results of pandemic prevention and control.

A representative of the Department of Industry said that from the perspective of disease prevention, businesses recommend that the priority given to employees working at enterprises (at point n, item 3, part III) become priority vaccination subjects according to point G, item 3, part III of the implementation plan for the Covid-19 vaccination campaign in 2021-2022.

In the group of businesses, priority is given to vaccination for businesses in the export and production industries of essential products, including electronics, textiles, footwear, automobiles, steel, agricultural product processing, and food.

In addition, medical facilities are allowed to implement fee-based vaccinations (paid by businesses and individuals) under the professional guidance and supervision of competent state agencies.

Regarding the textile and garment industry, talking to a reporter from Customs News, Mr. Vu Duc Giang, Chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas), said that the vaccination rate of Vietnam's textile and garment industry is still very low.

In the current context, it is urgent that the Government assess the current situation of industries; including policies to distribute vaccines in the textile industry in the localities. Localities also need to pay attention to injecting workers in factories and industrial zones.