HCMC – Although the raging Covid-19 pandemic has delivered a severe blow to the textile and garment sector in HCMC, many producers are striving to maintain production and at the same time putting anti-coronavirus measures in place.
More than 7,500 workers of the Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading JSC (TCM) have been divided into two groups to work in shifts to avoid a concentration of a large number of workers.
TCM Chairman Tran Nhu Tung said the company’s workers earlier had an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. work shift, but the hours are now from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., divided into two shifts.
The change has led to a reduction in workers’ productivity, putting pressure on the completion of the company’s orders. TCM has proposed the delivery of products be rescheduled. Meanwhile, the costs for electricity and water supply have also increased.
Many other textile and garment firms in the city are also facing a similar fate. For example, Viet Thang Jean Co., Ltd has increased the number of shifts from two to three.
Chairman of the company Pham Van Viet said it had received many orders for production until the end of the next quarter. The company has to complete nearly 30,000 products per day for its clients in the United States and Europe.
At the Saigon 3 Garment JSC, more than 2,500 workers have to make health declarations everyday and stay at least two meters apart. In addition, those living close to virus-hit areas must work from home.
Vu Duc Giang, chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, said the current fourth Covid-19 wave had struck enterprises in the textile and garment sector hard.
Nevertheless, these enterprises have secured many orders, enough for their production until the end of the year. Therefore, the target of earning US$40 billion from textile and garment exports is achievable, Giang added.
In order to support textile and garment manufacturers, the association proposed the Government support the enterprises in accessing Covid-19 vaccines and issue preferential policies to facilitate their normal operations.
According to VISTA, the United States remained the largest importer of Vietnam’s textile and garment products with revenue of US$3.5 billion in the first quarter of this year, making up 48% of the country’s total export revenue from textiles and garments.
By Trong Nghia
