Enterprises resume operations as soon as having a safe production plan

The Provincial People's Committee calls on businesses to resume production soon accompanied by a good plan to guarantee disease safety. Binh Duong is speeding up the injection of the second Covid-19 shot for workers, increasing the self-management and self-responsibility of enterprises when reopening or transforming production models. Binh Duong Newspaper had a discussion with Nguyen Thanh Toan, Director of Provincial Department of Industry and Trade, about plans to support and accompany businesses.

Enterprises in industrial clusters need to send their plans to Department of Industry and Trade, then they can resume manufacture. In photo: Production activities at Kolon Vietnam Company (Phu Chanh Industrial Complex, Tan Uyen Town).

- You has chaired a meeting with Binh Duong Furniture Association (BIFA), Binh Duong Ceramics Association and Binh Duong Electromechanical Association on reopening production in the "new normal" state. What major difficulties are businesses facing and want authorities at all levels to solve, sir?

- Currently, the biggest petitions of businesses is to quickly reopen production, re-establish supply chains, and complete orders after a long time of social distance. At this meeting, enterprises were most interested in the procedures to recover production; vaccine sources for businesses, testing procedures during production; build up green lodging houses. The associations also suggested that state management agencies should have a policy to bring workers back to Binh Duong, give priority to vaccination for workers returning from other provinces.

- Sir, based on these suggestions of enterprises, what recommendations did the industry and trade agency make to higher authorities to quickly create favorable conditions for enterprises to resume production?

- Vo Van Minh, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, promptly directed Department of Industry and Trade to announce the province's approval for enterprise's self-management of resuming production. Then all companies wishing to resume production will develop a plan in the new situation, send it to the authorities, and immediately carry out the reopening as meeting safety conditions. Specifically, enterprises in industrial parks in the province may send their plans to Management Board of industrial zones; enterprises belonging to industrial clusters may send their plans to the industry and trade branch; enterprises outside industrial parks or clusters send plans to municipal governments. Then enterprises can reopen production on the basis of plans while ensuring production safety in the new situation. It is expected that the province will have a document about the approval for self-management of enterprises, and state management agencies will only check it later. Currently, Binh Duong allows firms to self-test and self-issue certificates, create maximum convenience for workers to commute to work.

- Sir, does granting autonomy to businesses guarantee disease safety in the current conditions?

- I think that in the current situation, the protection of production is not only the task of the authorities but also one of the vital goals of businesses. This is a prerequisite for the survival of businesses after many difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, I believe that enterprises would develop strict plans and strict processes to protect production and protect themselves. The province grants autonomy to enterprises in the current conditions, this shows the government's great belief in enterprises, and wants to create favorable conditions for enterprises to resume production safely.

The problem of F0 detection and handling in factories need attention and reckon specifically in the safe production plan of businesses. It is necessary to come up with a plan to isolate F0s at safe points to ensure that production activities are maintained. The Provincial People's Committee also directed localities to set up Covid-19 quick response teams in order to promptly receive information and assist businesses when F0s appear in factories.

- Sir, businesses are eager for the second Covid-19 shots for workers, self-organized tests to reduce production costs and overcome difficulties after the pandemic. How does the industry and trade authority help solve these problems?

- Regarding vaccines, Binh Duong has received 1 million doses of Sinopharm's Vero Cell vaccine and a large number of other vaccines. Therefore, in October, the Provincial People's Committee directed all levels and branches to coordinate with businesses to speed up the vaccination for the second shot by giving priority to businesses that are maintaining "three-on-site", "one-road, two-destinations" and businesses resuming production. As for the industry and trade branch, next week we will provide the second shots for businesses.

Under the direction of Provincial People's Committee, Department of Industry and Trade will introduce businesses to a supplier of Korean test kits with less than 65,000 VND/kit. With this price, the testing cost per worker will be very low, relieving financial pressures for businesses. As the proportion of workers receiving fully two shots increases, the cost of testing will continue to decrease, these people only have to test every 7 days.

- Thank you Sir!

Reported by Tieu My - Translated by Ngoc Huynh

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