Workers at Furukawa Automotive Parts Vietnam Inc. Co., Ltd are tested for Covid-19 in June. Photo vnexpress.net

HCM CITY – Enterprises are facing difficulties meeting HCM City's new epidemic prevention requirements on the number of workers allowed in factory operations.

Enterprises applying the "3 on-site" model, which involves eating, sleeping and working without leaving, have been working with 30 per cent of their total workers.

If they want to increase that number to 50 per cent of the workforce, 30 per cent of their workers who have received at least one vaccine dose must eat, sleep and stay at the factory. The remaining 20 per cent must be fully vaccinated (two doses) and be living in green (low-risk) areas, where they can return home after work.

If employees travel by personal vehicle, they must follow the "one route, two destinations" model (workers travel between their accommodation and the factory with no stops on the way, on a set route).

If travelling by factory shuttle, epidemic prevention rules must be followed, such as always wearing a mask, keeping a distance of at least 2m from each other, and having a driver with a negative test result for COVID-19 within the previous 72 hours.

Đào Quốc Cường, administrative director of Juki Việt Nam Co., Ltd in District 7 Tân Thuận Export Processing Zone, said that he was pleased that the city allowed a higher number of workers in production, but after carefully studying the requirements, he found that it would be very difficult to apply.

He said that green areas could change to high-risk areas because the city is undergoing mass COVID-19 testing until September 30. The factory would then lose workers, he added.

In addition, the outbreak in the community remained complicated, but the city required the factory to have no positive COVID-19 cases for a period of seven days, which is nearly impossible, he said.

Hoàng Xuân Thái, chairman of the Union of Furukawa Automotive Parts Vietnam Inc. Co., Ltd, said that few businesses would be able to meet the requirement of not having a COVID-19 case for seven days.

His factory had more than 7,000 employees, so the probability of infection could be higher than in factories with 70 or 700 employees.

"The city needs to issue a certain rate so that factories can meet it. It's not feasible to require no positive cases."

Nguyễn Văn Bé, chairman of the HCM City Export Processing Zone and Industrial Park Authority Business Association (HBA), said the city wanted to control the epidemic at the safest level but it also needed to consider the feasibility of epidemic prevention regulations and the ability of businesses. – VNS