All level trade unions in drastic pandemic prevention

Under the spirit of protecting employees' health, preventing and combating Covid-19 epidemic and boosting production, the Trade Union of Tan Uyen town has directed its grassroots trade unions to take the initiative grasp of the situation to drastically control and prevent Covid-19 epidemic. The Trade Union in Tan Uyen town has done a good job of proposing and negotiating with the employers to partially support the cost of buying masks and hand-wash sanitizers for employees.

No masks, no bonuses

Tan Uyen town is a concentrated area where many companies and enterprises reside and attract many workers from provinces and cities nationwide to live and work locally. Facing complicated epidemics, businesses in the town have urgently applied measures to prevent infection among workers.

An employee is being checked the temperature and is asked to wash his hand

We were present at Response Vietnam Company in Uyen Hung Industrial Park cluster when the company's employees were concentrating on working. Most of the local staffs wore masks and used protective equipment as well as hand sanitizer. In order to protect their employees from the disease, the company also equipped with 8 thermometers for the medical department and the security department to regularly check body temperature in the morning before and during the working shift in the factory. In particular, the company also increased the frequency of cleaning in common areas such as cafeteria, toilets, and door handles. The company also ordered a large quantity of masks that were enough to provide daily for officers and all employees. Nguyen Van Bien, Chairman of the grassroots Trade Union of Response Vietnam, said: “The wearing of masks in the company is strictly controlled by the health and security department and is included in the company's internal regulations for heavy fines to be imposed if the workers fail comply on entering the workshop. In particular, the company also reviews officers and employees going to the locations where Covid-19 infected people were announced by the Ministry of Health and the Department of Health. By reviewing and screening, no employees of the company are reported to have visited such locations.”

Also with the meaning of proactively preventing and fighting epidemics, Huynh Tri, Chairman of grassroots Trade Union of Viet Y Company at Tan Hiep ward, shared how to raise awareness of disease prevention, health protection and safety for employees. The company has posted disease notices at the entrance, hallways, production areas and through its internal communication channels. The company has also mobilized workers from rural areas to stay in Binh Duong to welcome Tet. Meanwhile, according to the Trade Union of A My Gia Co., Ltd. at Khanh Binh ward, receiving the announcement on the implementation of disease prevention and control measures from all levels and sectors, the Trade Union Executive Committee has deployed the measures to all officers and employees through the company's loudspeaker system. Every day, time is preserved to disseminate knowledge about diseases and how to handle suspected Covid-19 infection at the factories. The company urges people to regularly wash their hands with soap or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and must wear masks and limit movement when not necessary, Bluezone installation, and medical reports.

Measures for pandemic prevention promoted

In order to rebuild the spirit of prevention and control of epidemics of workers, in recent days, the trade unions of Tan Uyen town have actively participated with the Party committees, authorities, and expertise in implementing epidemic prevention solutions such as propagation and mobilization of employees to self-prevent and combat epidemics, wash hands, wear masks, voluntarily report medical care and mobilize employees in epidemic areas to stay in Binh Duong to celebrate Tet. The town Trade Union focuses on implementing propaganda measures for disease prevention and control that have been organized by the trade unions in many effective forms, combining propaganda in traditional methods and through websites and social networks.

Luu Thi Tuyet Trinh, Chairwoman of Tan Uyen town Labor Union, said that implementing the instructions of the town Party Committee and People's Committee on strengthening disease prevention measures in the new situation, the town Trade Union requested Trade unions at all levels and the subordinate units to strictly and effectively implement. On that basis, grassroots trade unions at all levels have closely coordinated with employers to effectively implement epidemic prevention and control measures by promoting the role of union officers who act as a bridge to guide members and employees to always wear masks and limit travel when not necessary. “In addition, grassroots trade unions have advised and mobilized the Board of Directors of companies to regularly clean and disinfect the working environment, distribute masks to employees, put dry hand sanitizers, offer enough hand soap in the toilet areas and the entrances to ensure food safety at the collective kitchens, provide enough drinking and clean water for employees, well manage the health of union members and employees, early detect related cases so as resolutely not to let the epidemic spread among agencies, units and businesses,” said Trinh.

Currently, Tan Uyen town Trade Union has instructed its grassroots trade unions to propose and negotiate with employers to fully or partially support the purchase of masks and hand sanitizer for their employees. In case the employer does not have the funds to support or only offer partial support to perform the above tasks, the grassroots trade unions would balance the available financial resources to purchase masks and hand sanitizer for the employees. In case the grassroots trade unions and the enterprise cannot perform due to hardship, the superior trade unions would consider to provide funding for the grassroots trade unions to ensure the provision of masks and hand sanitizer for employees under the regulations.

Reported by Kim Ha – Translated by Vi Bao