Restore production for seafood processing enterprises

Bac Lieu province has tens of thousands of workers at seafood processing factories. Therefore, ensuring worker safety is a top priority today.

Workers at processing plants carry out production 3 on-site. Photo: Trong Linh.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade of Bac Lieu province, to implement the guidance on the prevention and control of Covid-19 at the workplace of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention, many seafood processing enterprises in Bac Lieu province have applied information technology in the medical declaration, invest in automatic hand sanitizer.

Businesses with more than 300 workers will arrange temporary isolation areas when someone is suspected of being infected, build on-site dining and resting areas for workers performing "3-on-site" production, or divert traffic during the production process.

Currently, Bac Lieu province has 62 enterprises preliminarily processing and processing aquatic products for export. Of which, Gia Rai town has 30 enterprises. In general, seafood processing enterprises employ many workers, sometimes up to thousands of workers at a factory.

If unfortunately, the Covid-19 epidemic enters the factory, the factory will significantly impact the local epidemic prevention and control. Therefore, epidemic prevention should always be a top priority for businesses at this time.

By implementing this direction, seafood enterprises have all developed plans to prevent and control the epidemic and approved by the district People's Committee. Methods of prevention and control of the Covid-19 outbreak will also be adjusted to suit the evolution of the disease.

Ten months ago, businesses only needed to take samples for the Covid-19 test from 10-20% of workers each period. Now this rate has increased to 40-50%. Businesses also require workers to not contact people from areas with a high and very high risk of infection. At the same time, arrange alternate working shifts between groups of workers and arrange temporary isolation rooms for suspected cases.

Thai Minh Long Seafood Co., Ltd (Gia Rai Town) operates at only 70% of capacity, so it affects the fulfillment of orders signed with partners. Previously, there was a time when the factory's capacity was only 40% due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic. Up to now, 100% of the factory's workers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 with the 2nd dose. As a result, the parts in the factory are speeding up operations.

Mr. Tran Van Dieu, Director of Thai Minh Long Seafood Co., Ltd., said that after the workers injected two doses of the vaccine, the company was divided into five separate production teams. Meanwhile, in the preliminary processing and purchasing stages, the enterprise has rented a factory far away from the residential area, the company uses workers there to work, restricting movement. "We do not accept the risk due to the Covid-19 epidemic to increase productivity. Therefore, all measures to prevent and control the epidemic are taken by the unit," said Mr. Dieu.

According to Mr. Ngo Quoc Tuan, Vice Chairman of Gia Rai Town People's Committee, the town has asked seafood processing factories to coordinate with related sectors to regularly set up on-site health teams to monitor and check worker health.

At the same time, the teams will check the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic of the companies. If companies do not meet the requirements, they are forced to shut down. For operating businesses, drivers and employees are always closely monitored, and random tests are regularly conducted.

From November 13 to now, in Dong Hai district, the district has organized a second training course on taking samples for Covid-19 testing for hundreds of workers in the seafood factory. After the training, these workers can practice taking samples periodically for their colleagues at the facility.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Han, Vice Chairman of Dong Hai District People's Committee, assessed that seafood processing enterprises in the area performed well in measuring body temperature, mandatorily wearing masks, and periodic Covid-19 testing.

In the "red zone" is Ganh Hao town, Ca Mau Import-Export Aquatic Products Processing and Services Joint Stock Company - Bac Lieu Branch allows workers to inject two vaccine doses to come to the factory to work. The rest workers produce as per the "3 on-site" rule. Enterprises in the "yellow" and "orange" areas are self-testing and screening for 30% of workers every three days.

Dong Hai District People's Committee leaders regularly check epidemic prevention and control at two seafood processing and preliminary processing factories in Dinh Thanh commune. These factories always put epidemic prevention and management first, mobilizing workers not to contact people outside the company. All workers of the two factories above have been vaccinated with the first vaccine dose of vaccine.

Mr. Le Tan Can, Vice Chairman of Bac Lieu Provincial People's Committee, businesses that want to operate must be safe. Therefore, the Covid-19 vaccine must cover workers with two doses. But not enough two shots are safe, but businesses must regularly test and screen for Covid-19.

According to regulations, businesses must periodically self-test to ensure 100% safety, local authorities must send medical teams to check, remind and directly test for additional screening. Concerning testing, the government supports enterprises with human resources. And in places where it is difficult, a part of the test kit cost will be supported.