A cafeteria at a company in HCM City’s Bình Tân District that has been housing its staff since July. HCM City businesses are slowly reopening after the easing of the stringent COVID-19 prevention measures, but they are still cautious about contagion. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Anh

HCM CITY — HCM City companies are resuming production after months of closure, but remain cautious about the pandemic, only gradually reopening and getting workers back.

From October 1, they are not required to house workers onsite, and can merely register with local authorities if they want to reopen as long as they comply with safety criteria.

Some businesses with generous welfare policies have been able to keep their workers from going back to their hometown, and are able to resume easily.

Nguyễn Hải Trung, general director of Daehan Motors Co., Ltd said the company’s truck manufacturing facility in the HCM City Automotive – Mechanical Industrial Park in Củ Chi District complies with safety norms and has increased production compared to the lockdown period.

Around 80 per cent of workers have returned since most are Củ Chi locals, he said.

Meanwhile, many other companies are struggling with a lack of manpower since workers who had returned home are currently unable to travel due to lockdowns and other restrictions.

Most businesses are not reopening too quickly since they first want to ensure production will not be halted again by the resurgence of the pandemic.

For example, Việt Nam Organ Needle Trading Co., Ltd. is watching how other businesses are operating before deciding when it can switch to the so-called ‘four greens’ model that requires workers to have COVID-19 green cards, stick to a registered route while commuting to work and living in COVID-free areas, and workplaces to meet the city’s pandemic safety regulations.

Many businesses are still keeping their workers onsite despite the high costs.

Lập Phúc Co., Ltd which specialises in mechanical moulds, is encouraging staff to continue living onsite, even until Tết if they agree.

Its general director, Nguyễn Văn Trí, told VnExpress online newspaper that since the city still has a high number of COVID infections, workers travelling between home and the workplace could easily spread the disease.

Đại Dũng Mechanical Construction Commerce JSC is also continuing with this model, but plans to relax it once the number of community cases drops.

Trịnh Mạnh Hùng, deputy general director of the company, said some of the workers are fatigued from living on premises for three months, but the company is keeping their spirits up by providing leisure options and a “strong” wi-fi connection.

Around 720 businesses in the city’s 17 export and industrial parks in HCM City have been operating with onsite accommodation for staff since July 15.

Only a few have allowed staff to return home since September 30.

Võ Hân Hoan, deputy chairman of the city People’s Committee, said businesses’ responsibility to protect their premises from the pandemic has only heightened after the lockdown has been lifted. — VNS