- Thermal screening of everyone at entry and exit points is made mandatory
- Total ban on non-essential visitors
- All the workers need to be covered under medical insurance
- Cargo flights will start operating from 20th April
In the newly issued directive for lockdown which has been extended till 3rd May, the government has allowed some manufacturing industries to resume operations from 20th April, though strictly adhering to the social distancing norms.
As per the notification, manufacturing and other industrial establishments with access control have been permitted in SEZs, EoUs, industrial estates, and industrial townships. Besides, the manufacture of IT hardware and of essential goods and packaging, coal, mineral, and oil production are also permitted under the notification.
To ease the process of the supply chain, all goods traffic, along with the goods trains and cargo flights will be allowed from April 20. The occupancy level of such vehicles should not exceed 30-40% of total passenger capacity. Thermal screening of everyone at entry and exit points is made mandatory required, with a total ban on non-essential visitors. All workers need to be covered under medical insurance.
However, the government has also clearly stated the guidelines to be followed during the lockdown by not just manufacturing companies but other sectors permitted. These establishments will have to make arrangements for the stay of workers within their premises as far as possible. In another case, special transport arrangements should be made by employers for the workers coming from outside.
Manufacturing units, allowed to operate during the lockdown, also need to ensure frequent cleaning of common surfaces and frequent hand washing. To effectively maintain social distancing overlapping of lifts is strictly prohibited and staggering lunchtime and an hour’s gap between shifts have been mandated.
Standard operating procedures also include all areas including entrance gates, canteens, equipment, lifts, walls and washrooms in offices, workplaces, factories and establishments to be disinfected.
While this is a welcome move for the manufacturing sector at large, manufacturing SMEs which have been reeling under severe pressure will find relief after the almost 20 days spell of no activities.