HCM City Customs has arranged three-on-the-spot” employees (work, have meals and accommodation at the workplace) at customs checkpoints to ensure customs clearance for businesses during the two weeks of extended lockdown.

Customs officers of Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Department are ready
to take up the “three-on-the -spot” duty on the night of August 22, 2021. Photo: L.A

On the first day of two weeks extended lockdown, HCM City Customs Department actively prepared human resources and facilities to conduct customs clearance of import and export goods. Therefore, many border customs units have arranged “three-on-the-spot” employees, online employees and issued travel permits to 10% of the total employees as described.

In addition, Director of Express Customs Branch Nguyen Thanh Nam has requested express service enterprises to exchange information about imported and exported goods which are expected to conduct customs procedures at the branch from August 23 to September 6, 2021.

The branch will capture the situation and actively guide enterprises and arrange three-on-the-spot employees to conduct customs clearance for enterprises, especially imported consignments of medical equipment, bio products, pharmaceuticals and vaccines, said Nguyen Thanh Nam.

Deputy Director of Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch Nguyen Thanh Phu said the unit has arranged customs officer to work on the “three-on-the-spot” model during the two peak weeks of anti-pandemic measures.

Similarly, Deputy Director of Saigon Port Zone 1 Customs Branch Le Nguyen Linh said due to limited facilities at the unit’s headquarters, the branch also implemented the "three-on-the-spot" model. Following the direction of leaders at all levels to further tighten the implementation of social distancing, the branch has encouraged customs officers to continue the “three-on-the-spot” model and promptly issued travel permits to customs officers in accordance with the direction of Ho Chi Minh City.

“Due to the pandemic, many businesses do not receive goods, so the amount of import declarations has seen a sharp drop. From morning to noon on August 23, the branch only received 26 import declarations. Meanwhile, the branch used to receive 800-1,000 declarations per day," said Deputy Director Le Nguyen Linh.

To ensure smooth import-export activities at border gates, on August 22, the leader of HCM City Customs Department asked the heads of units to actively prepare and work with port operators to develop a specific plan in line with the social distancing measures, and prepare human resources to work online, offline and on the “three-on-the-spot” model.

The heads of units should make appropriate plans, ensuring safety according to regulations on pandemic prevention and control, but creating trade facilitation for import-export activities of enterprises.

In addition, the leader of HCM City Customs Department also asked the heads of units to seriously follow pandemic prevention measures according to the notice and direction of leaders at all levels and promptly report to the Department's Steering Team for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on problems arising for coordination and immediate settlement.