Factory workers at Non Sơn are ready to return to work (Photo courtesy of sggp.org.vn) Most businesses have carried out COVID-19 prevention measures and control suchas frequent body temperature checks and sterilisation at working areas, amongother tasks.
Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen from Vinh Long province arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on February16 (the fifth day of Tet). Since she was worried about traffic jams and wouldlike to have time to better prepare for the first working day of the Lunar NewYear, she decided to return earlier this year.
“I felt content with over a week staying at home with my family during Tet,”she said.
Nguyen Thi Anh Trang from Kien Giang province, who works at PouYuen VietnamCompany, said that she and her husband always return to the city one to twodays in advance to “rebalance” their lifestyle.
Nguyen Van Hung, chairman of the Trade Union of Dai Dung Metallic ManufactureConstruction and Trade Corporation in Binh Chanh district, said over 70 percentof the company’s workforce will start work on the sixth day of Tet.
The company’s board of directors will offer red envelopes or lucky money to allworkers at the factory, he said.
“By the 8th day of the Lunar New Year, workers from all provinces will returnto the company. The fluctuation of labour shortages at the beginning of thisyear is expected to be about 10 percent,” he added.
Epidemic prevention
Cu Phat Nghiep, chairman of Trade Union of PouYuen Vietnam Company, said thatmany workers stayed put in HCM City during Tet to prevent the spread ofCOVID-19.
The company organised workers’ shifts in a way to avoid crowding at the factoryand provide workers with longer leave time.
“About 90 percent of the company’s workers are expected to return to work rightafter the holiday. Of which, 80 percent will return on the 6th day of Tet andthe rest will be coming from the 7th to 11th day. Labour efficiency will beensured if workers have enough rest,” Nghiep said.
Chairman of the Confederation of Labour in Binh Tan District Nguyen Van Haisaid the number of workers who stayed in HCM City this year during Tet wassignificant.
To create further motivation for locals and help them better accommodate the“new normal” situation, the district Labour Confederation plans to set uponline markets at firms. This is a service that helps workers shop for marketgoods conveniently.
Huynh Van Tuan, chairman of the HCM City Industrial Zones and Exports TradeUnion, said about 40 percent of enterprises in the EPs and IZs on February 17resumed operations.
Since over 75 percent of workers did not go home this year, labour shortageswill not be a problem, he said.
Many businesses have told their workers who are returning from epidemic-proneareas to submit medical reports and follow strict measures to preventoutbreaks./.
VNA
