Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)It was an especially encouraging performance given that the sector witnesseda 10.5 percent decline in generating 35 billion USD from exports last year. Theindustry is aiming for up to 39 billion USD in shipments this year.
However, exporters and producers can’t rest easily as the country’sfourth wave of COVID-19 is ravaging industrial parks in the north, where alarge number of textile and apparel factories are located.
If a company is put under quarantine and must suspend production for 14 to21 days, its plan for the year as a whole would be in tatters, according to Chairmanof the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) Vu Duc Giang. Theconsequences could be enormous, leaving firms on the brink of bankruptcy andworkers without jobs, he added.
Textile and garments is a labour-intensive industry and the damagecaused by the COVID-19 resurgence may be incalculable, he explained. Delays indelivery can lead to cancelled orders or delay penalties, resulting in losses inthe billions of USD and reputational damage for the industry.
It is vital to protect workers’ health to maintain continuous production,Giang said.
To deal with the situation, VITAS has proposed the government and theMinistry of Health help producers buy and administer COVID-19 vaccines, withpriority given to those in areas hit hardest by the pandemic.
The association has also suggested firms in the industry providefinancial support for procuring vaccines, to speed up nationwide vaccinationefforts./.
VNA
