On September 15, 2021, the Head of Ho Chi Minh City’s Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control issued Decision 3328/QD-BCD (Decision) on the Set of Criteria for the prevention and control of Covid-19 at the workplace in Ho Chi Minh city (Set of Criteria). This Set of Criteria sets out standards and conditions for businesses to self-assess and implement to reopen after a long period of the Covid-19 shutdown.

Groups of businesses subject to this Decision include commercial businesses and suppliers such as supermarkets, shopping centers, mini markets, convenient stores, food retailers, production facilities, and offices of production, business, and service providers in Ho Chi Minh City. These businesses may reopen if they meet the conditions and ensure the Set of Criteria to evaluate safe operations in preventing and controlling the Covid-19 epidemic of each specific field specified in the appendixes of this Set of Criteria.

Evaluation Criteria for Businesses to Reopen

To reopen, businesses must meet the criteria set out in the appendixes issued alongside the Set of Criteria. Those criteria include:

• COVID Green Card for employees and customers;
• Periodically testing for workers in production facilities;
• Regulations on safe distancing at the workplace;
• Inspection of Covid-19 prevention measures at the workplace;
• Fully equipped with medical equipment for the prevention of Covid-19 at the workplace;
• Guarantee of workplace hygiene to prevent Covid-19;
• Information on the prevention of Covid-19 at the workplace;
• Plans/preparation for Covid-19 prevention at the workplace.

COVID Green Card – Important Factor for Business Reopening

Employees working on site must have a “COVID Green Card” and follow the 5K regulations of the Ministry of Health. To acquire the “COVID Green Card,” a person needs to meet the following conditions:

• A negative result on Covid test (Rapid test or PCR test) for particulars sectors;
• Vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine at least 02 weeks before going to work or have contracted Covid-19 and recovered (a discharge record or certificate of completing quarantine period required);
• No close contact with F0 in the period of 14 days.

Operating Principles of Businesses

Upon reopening, businesses have to comply with Covid-19 prevention and control regulations and need to bear in mind that they can only operate if they meet the Set of Criteria. Especially, retailers or commercial businesses with delivery services need to operate on a no-contact basis (no payment by cash). In the event payment by cash is unavoidable, businesses have to prepare separate money trays. At the same time, goods have to be delivered through a middle-man to avoid physical contact between the delivery person and the receiver.

The legal regulations applied during the Covid-19 epidemic are subjected to changes on a daily basis. If you have any questions or concerns and want us to keep you updated about such changes, our experienced lawyers are always available at letran@corporatecounsels.vn.