Companies with employees living in the Industrial Area need to sign a pledge not to let such workers mingle with others outside the area while working on different projects.

This is one of the conditions to be fulfilled by companies to ensure their workers’ entry to and exit from the Industrial Area on a daily basis, as laid down by the Permanent Committee for Industrial Area in the ‘Industrial Area Exit and Entry Guide’.

This comes as part of the precautionary measures in place and the re-organised entry and exit procedures that came into effect on May 5.

Companies have to adhere to the policies of the Ministry of Public Health and the requirements of the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs to limit the spread of the pandemic at the workplace and in housing facilities, according to the document.

They have to sign a “pledge not to let workers mingle with others outside the Industrial Area while working on various projects”, and should “continue to educate their workers about the need to leave a safe distance (2m) and take other preventive measures”.

The health requirements stipulate that no one is allowed to enter the area without wearing a mask and sterilisers must be provided at the workplace.

“Compliance with occupational safety and health requirements at the workplace is a must,” the guide states, noting that the stakeholders should send text messages periodically to urge everyone concerned to abide by all regulations and measures.

Awareness brochures are also to be distributed among workers about safe distancing and other preventive measures.

The entry and exit procedures include a screening and verification process as well as random thermal inspection in collaboration with various entities to ensure the safety of workers while entering and exiting the area, the guide says.

The document stresses that people who want to exit and enter the Industrial Area must download the Ehteraz app on their mobile phones.

Companies who want their workers to exit the area must ensure that the app is downloaded on the workers’ phones with their screening results. In case a worker’s phone does not have the feature that allows him to download the app or doesn’t own a mobile phone, he will not be allowed to exit the area.

“A company's commitment to health, housing and workplace requirements will be evaluated. In case of any violation of these conditions, the company will be penalised,” the document adds.


Related Story