Ensuring '3 on-site' measures to prevent epidemics for garment workers in Yen Thanh

Spraying disinfectant chemicals to prevent epidemics at An Hung Garment Factory in Cong Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh). Photo: Van Truong

Given the situationCovid-19 epidemicWith the complicated developments of the epidemic, in order to ensure the prevention of the risk of disease infiltration and spread, An Hung Garment Factory in Cong Thanh Commune has maximized solutions to prevent and control the epidemic, protect the safety of workers and stabilize production and business.

Mr. Dang Viet Dung - Human Resources Director (An Hung Garment Factory, Cong Thanh Commune) of An Hung Group Joint Stock Company said:An Hung Garment Factoryhas the largest number of workers in Yen Thanh district at present, with 2,000 workers. In the context of the complicated development of the Covid-19 epidemic, the factory determined that epidemic prevention must be the top priority, with production development being the second task.

Medical staff take rapid test samples from workers at An Hung Garment Factory. Photo: Van Truong

The factory has come up with solutions, such as proactively reducing the number of workers coming to work at the factory from 2,000 workers to only 200 workers. Workers are arranged to "3 on-site" at the factory (eat, stay, work on-site) strictly following the regulations on epidemic prevention and control, absolutely not contacting the community outside the residential area.

Every week, the factory organizes rapid tests for workers, arranges staff to measure body temperature of workers and laborers at the beginning of each working day, arranges hand sanitizer and masks at work sites; organizes disinfection spraying in production areas.

The number of workers working at the factory is supported with 3 free meals/day and some personal items for workers. The model "3 on the spot"Not only does it contribute to preventing the disease from spreading widely, but it also restores the production chain, ensuring that the supply chain is not disrupted...

An Hung Garment Factory in Cong Thanh Commune is still operating to avoid disrupting the supply of goods to the market. Photo: Van Truong

However, for MLB Tenergy Garment Factory (MLB Tenergy Co., Ltd.), which is considered a complex epidemic outbreak in the town areaYen Thanh, is currently inactive.

According to Mr. Hoang Van Ngoc, a human resources officer at the factory, the factory has been temporarily closed since August 19, when the first worker tested positive for Covid-19. Following the direction of the district's Covid-19 Prevention and Control Committee, all workers were screened and tested by local authorities. So far, 11 workers have tested positive for Covid-19.

"One of the necessary things is to organize the spraying of disinfectant chemicals in the factory area. However, because it involves garment products, it is impossible to use conventional disinfectant chemicals as the health sector has long used, but must use other chemicals, so the district health sector still does not have chemicals to spray disinfectants for businesses," said Mr. Hoang Van Ngoc.

MLB Tenergy Co., Ltd. has been temporarily closed to prevent and control the epidemic since August 19. Photo: Van Truong

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ha - Vice Chairman of Yen Thanh District People's Committee said: Currently, in Yen Thanh district, there are 2 large garment factories, employing thousands of local workers, including An Hung Garment Factory (Cong Thanh) and MLB Tenergy Garment Factory (Yen Thanh town), in addition to many other small garment companies in the communes.

Given the developments of the Covid-19 epidemic in the district, including many positive cases at MLB Tenergy Garment Factory, in order to ensure epidemic prevention and control, An Hung Garment Factory proposed to the district to continue production, but the district's Steering Committee for Epidemic Prevention and Control requested that "3 on-site" measures be implemented for workers; at the same time, implementing epidemic prevention and control regulations according to Directive 16 of the Government.

For MLB Tenergy Garment Factory, many workers have tested positive for the epidemic. The most difficult problem is that the source of infection has not been identified, so the district has directed the factory to temporarily suspend operations. Accordingly, all thousands of workers will be quarantined and monitored locally, focusing on the communes of Nhan Thanh, Van Thanh, Phuc Thanh, Hoa Thanh, Khanh Thanh... with a large number of workers. For small garment companies in the district, all must temporarily suspend operations to prevent the epidemic.

“With the number of people neededquick testThere are many cases in many localities at this time, so Yen Thanh district has asked the province to support human resources to soon complete rapid testing for people so that epidemic prevention and control work can be more effective.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ha - Vice Chairman of Yen Thanh District People's Committee

Yen Thanh district is one of the localities with complicated epidemic developments in the province at present, therefore, the Steering Committee for epidemic prevention and control of the district is always proactive in all plans to prevent and control the epidemic. Accordingly, 8 communes have applied some urgent measures at a higher level thanDirective No.16of the Government on Covid-19 prevention and control./.