Province receives foreign workers while guaranteeing disease prevention control

In order to facilitate sustainable economic development, the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Committee and departments, branches in the province have created all favorable conditions to assist foreign workers in entering Binh Duong for their  work. However, in order to protect people's health and fight against the strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the province's reception of foreign workers is carried out thoughtfully and safely. This work of the province has been recognized and appreciated by businesses and foreign workers.

Safe reception

Since the beginning of new year, Binh Duong has received 2,660 foreign workers and their family (wife, children, parents) entering Binh Duong for their work. On February 14, the province received 142 experts and families arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Out of a total of 2,660 experts approved by the province, most of them entered via Tan Son Nhat Airport.

It is expected that in the near future, the number of foreign workers wishing to enter Binh Duong would be very large. Currently, provincial medical authorities is collaborating with branches and units inside and outside the province to set up plans to receive foreign workers.

Dr. Nguyen Hong Chuong, Director of Provincial Department of Health, said that the work of receiving and organizing medical isolation for foreign workers entering Binh Duong to work has been carried out by provinces and cities across the country, related departments and agencies to create the best conditions for enterprises to soon stabilize production.

The Department of Health has closely coordinated with relevant departments and branches, such as Immigration Department - Ministry of Public Security, Provincial Public Security, and enterprises in many stages of handling immigration procedures, the reception at border gates or airports, medical isolation measures according to regulations... Up to now, this work has been performed well and is appreciated by enterprises, contributing to preventing the disease from entering and spreading in the province.

Medical authority checks a hotel isolation area for foreigners.

After receiving experts from Tan Son Nhat Airport, the Provincial Public Security directed municipal police forces to manage and monitor foreigners entering, isolated and staying across the province. Medical centers of districts, towns and cities supervise, monitor and take samples for SARS-CoV-2 tests, instruct the implementation of isolation measures, self-monitor health of foreigners to ensure the disease prevention control according to regulations of the Ministry of Health.

Companies, enterprises inviting foreign workers must strictly comply with regulations on immigration procedures; arrange vehicles to transport foreigners from airport or border gate to isolation place/accommodation to ensure safety. Enterprises report to administrations and medical authorities for instructions on isolation, health self-monitoring and taking samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing. In particular, businesses are committed to implementing regulations on isolation, health self-monitoring to guarantee the Covid-19 prevention control, and take full responsibility if the disease spreads into the community.

Businesses and foreign workers are satisfied

Referring to the regulations on isolation for pandemic prevention control, Dr. Nguyen Hong Chuong added that Binh Duong currently applies regulations of the Ministry of Health, namely, an immigrant has had enough covid-19 vaccine doses or have recovered from the disease must do quarantine, health monitoring at accommodation for the first 3 days from the date of entry, not contact people around, not leave the place; test for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR method on day 1 and 3 from the date of entry. If the test result is negative for SARS-CoV-2, the immigrant will continue to self-monitor their health until the end of 14 days from the date of entry. If the test result is positive, it will be handled according to regulations.

An immigrant entering the country has not been vaccinated or injected with insufficient doses, must take quarantine at home or accommodation for 7 days from the date of entry; perform SARS-CoV-2 test by RT-PCR method on day 1 and 7. If the test result is negative for SARS-CoV-2, the immigrant will continue to self-monitor their health until the end of 14 days from the date of entry. If the test result is positive, it will be handled according to regulations. Foreigners entering the country under 18 years old, people aged 65 or older, pregnant women, and people with underlying medical conditions (but not having to be monitored and treated at medical facilities) are isolated with their parents and caregivers.

According to the assessment of immigration experts, the reception and isolation work is strictly implemented by Binh Duong, meeting requirements of disease prevention control; help foreign workers feel comfortable during isolation period. Zhou Zhang Long, from Sichuan province, China, is an expert at Sharp Mind Technology Vietnam Company (Dai Dang Industrial Park, Thu Dau Mot City), said: “In quarantine area for hotel guests, everything went very smoothly. Officials worked tirelessly to disinfect our rooms every day, took our body temperatures and cleared out our trash cans. They served us very friendly and are dedicated. My feeling in the hotel isolation area was like going on a vacation.”

Meanwhile, Wada Kazuhito, Director of Saigon Stec Company, (VSIP 2 in Thu Dau Mot City), said: "We are really satisfied with the open policies to welcoming foreigners work in Binh Duong to recover and develop the economy after the pandemic. This response of Vietnam in general and Binh Duong in particular is the key to success to bring Binh Duong to new heights.”

Reported by Hoang Linh - Translated by Ngoc Huynh