The implementation of social distancing to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 has caused a large reduction in the workforce of seaport enterprises. (Source: baochinhphu.vn) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has asked provincial andmunicipal authorities to ease the travel of labourers at seaports so as toavoid the disruption of production and supply chains amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Theimplementation of social distancing in accordance with Directive 16 of theGovernment to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 has caused a largereduction in the workforce of enterprises, including those in seaports.
The move wasmade after the Government Office sent an official dispatch to the MoT,requiring it to consider a number of urgent solutions to support businesses andlimit disruptions in the production and supply chains in the context of thepandemic that were proposed by the Private Economic Development Research Board.
According tothe dispatch, the board suggested the Prime Minister direct or assign relevantministries and localities to review and apply uniform regulations ontravel for groups of personnel who work at ports and responsible forexport and import procedures. The people should be allowed to travel asshippers, it proposed.
The MoT saidit agreed with the board’s proposals and suggested the People's Committees ofprovinces and cities consider and direct the implementation.
Earlier,transport departments in cities and provinces reported to the MoT that theapplication of social distancing had greatly affected the workforce ofenterprises and seaports.
For example, CatLai Port in Ho Chi Minh City faced a severe shortage of employees such as portofficers and forklift drivers as many workers were located in locked downresidential areas and the city was applying regulations restricting travelbetween pandemic-affected localities.
According tothe port, the number of employees has decreased by 50 percent to 250.Meanwhile, the necessary personnel required to be at the port to maintainoperations is 500 people per day, excluding staff of customs, shippinglines and relevant State management agencies.
Thestay-at-work model applied to loading and unloading workers at the port has notbeen very effective because the port has little vacant space, and manyactivities take place outdoors.
To deal withthe shortage, the Vietnam Maritime Administration, the Seaport Associations andport enterprises have submitted proposals to the authorities to allow the Cat LaiPort’s workers to go to the port if they do not reside in lockeddown areas./.
VNA
