Facing the complicated situation of COVID-19, the Prime Minister has directed 19 southern provinces to implement distancing according to Directive 16. Besides, to strengthen prevention and control, and to trace F0s out of the community, many localities have taken STRONG measures, that is, implementing the “3 on the spot” and “1 road, 2 destinations” for companies, factories and asking them to stop operating if they fail to meet the requirements.
What is “3 on the spot”?
On July 14, 2021, the Ministry of Labor, War Vanities and Social Affairs – Vietnam General Confederation of Labor – Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued Official Letter No. 2242/LDTBXH-TLD-PTM on both isolation and production in companies and factories, including the content related to the “3 on the spot”. According to the above Official Letter, businesses and factories implementing the “3 on the spot” (ex: production on the spot – eat on the spot – stay on the spot – rest on the spot) have to meet the requirements about:
– The plan to distance, divide shifts to ensure safety;
– Ensure the conditions for workers’ concentrated accommodations according to the regulations
– Ensure the quality of meals and workers’ health
How is “3 on the spot” applied?
– In Ho Chi Minh City, many businesses have implemented the “3 on the spot” such as:
+ Cofidec Company of Satra Corporation has arranged Accommodation rooms for workers following the “3 on the spot” with solid built walls, doors and windows… meeting the requirements of air ventilation, natural lighting, and complying with the 5K regulation of the Ministry of Health… the workers are provided with personal items and minimize their close contact with one another.
+ VISSAN company arranged to divide workers into 2 groups: An internal production group and an external transport group. These two groups perform independent tasks, without getting contact. The company has organized cooking 3 meals a day, and arranged accommodations for workers in some clean and airy warehouses.
+ Sai Gon Gia Dinh Electric Joint Stock Company has divided workers into 2 groups: one group works at home and the other group works at the company, meaning this group will apply the “3 on the spot”. Foreseeing the situation and in order to ensure the safety of employees, the company’s BOD soon applied the “3 on the spot”. The company organizes cooking 3 meals a day, working at the company, and arranges accommodation and rest with adequate ventilation, natural light, compliance with 5K, etc. Thanks to that, EHCMC’s activities are guaranteed the state of continuous operation, avoiding the deceleration of working progress.
We can see that the necessary objects to apply the “3 on the spot” are large-scale companies and factories that use a large number of workers. If workers have to go back and forth between workplace and home, it will be difficult to carry out the prevention effectively.
Not complying with the “3 on the spot”, how to be handled?
The application of the “3 on the spot” mentioned above, or “1 route, 2 destinations” helps companies and factories not only to ensure safety, and prevent the spread of Covid-19, but also to maintain production and ensure the supply of essential products to consumers.
If companies and factories that are allowed to continue operating according to Directive 16 but fail to implement the “3 on the spot” at the request of local authorities, they may be considered as non-compliant, and could be punished according to Clause 2, Article 14 of Decree No. 117/2020/ND-CP of the Government, with a fine up to 20 million VND and according to Directive 16, that organization will be required to stop operating.
Employees and workers going to companies or factories asked to stop operating may be considered to be out on the street without a legitimate reason, violating the social distancing policy that the local authorities are applying under Directive 16, the amount one has to pay for this act varies from 1 to 3 million VND according to Point a, Clause 1, Article 12 of Decree No. 117/2020/ND-CP.
