HCMC – PouYuen Vietnam Co., Ltd, which employs some 70,000 workers, will suspend operations on April 14 and 15 as part of HCMC's efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The HCMC chairman, Nguyen Thanh Phong, reported the suspension to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a web conference held this afternoon, April 13, on Covid-19 infection prevention and control. The move came after the HCMC Health Department inspected PouYuen Vietnam and found that the company had failed to comply with public health directives and other safety requirements to stem the spread of Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. All workers at the firm have had their body temperatures checked and must wear face masks while they are at work. However, its stevedores and those leaving the firm’s factories were not wearing masks. PouYuen has also not reduced its staff of shift workers. Large gatherings were still recorded at the entrance to the firm, and employees failed to keep a minimum distance of two meters between them. Following the inspection results and proposals of the competent agencies, the city decided to order PouYuen Vietnam to halt operations in an effort to protect the health and safety of the workers amid the escalating epidemic, Phong reported. Addressing the conference, PM Phuc said the city would consider allowing the firm to resume operations if it strictly follows the prevailing regulations and social distancing measures.