Samsung Ho Chi Minh City Unit Shuts 3 Workshops as Virus Spreads
Ho Chi Minh City Tells Samsung to Suspend Factory Amid Outbreak
(Bloomberg) -- Samsung Electronics Co.’s unit in Ho Chi Minh City’s Saigon Hi-Tech Park suspended three of its 16 workshops after reporting dozens of virus cases, according to a Wednesday post on the health ministry’s website.
Samsung Electronics HCMC CE Complex also reduced its workers to 3,000 from 7,000 and is working on plans to isolate employees at its complex, the post said, citing company representative Do Thanh Hai.
Authorities have ordered companies with factories in the technology park to suspend operations and set up on-site sleeping accommodations for workers, said Le Bich Loan, the park’s deputy manager.
A fast-spreading outbreak in Vietnam’s commercial hub has led to a 15-day stay-home order beginning July 9. Authorities are scrambling to contain the virus while also working with companies to maintain operations as much as possible so as not to disrupt global supply chains and protect the nation’s export-dependent economy.
“We have requested all factories, not just those of Samsung, to temporarily close down until they submit plans on quarantines, accommodations for their workers to stay in their plants,” Loan said by phone. “After reviewing their plans, we will allow those that meet our requirements to reopen.”
Intel Corp., which has a test and assembly plant in the park, is allowed to continue operations after setting up sleepover arrangements and reducing some of its operations, she said.
Representatives for Samsung and Intel did not immediately respond to after-hours requests for comment.
Authorities in the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, home to Samsung factories and suppliers for Apple Inc., earlier imposed similar requirements.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park has 86 to 157 companies and institutes, according to the English and Vietnamese versions of its website, respectively. Each site provides a different number of corporate tenants.
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