Following the announcement that car wash services, car dealerships, and car accessories shops can reopen even in Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), a follow-up announcement by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) also confirms that all non-essential manufacturing factories are also allowed to reopen.
But like before, though the announcement to resume operations is very much welcomed, it came too suddenly. After one year, the government has not improved in the way they put out official announcements and manufacturers are left scrambling.
Although factories are allowed to reopen on 16-August-2021, but as of Monday morning, manufacturers are still closed as they are verifying the details and studying the standard operating procedures (SOP).
Also read: MCO Update: Car wash and car dealerships allowed to open starting 16th August
There is also the possibility of local city councils overruling MITI’s approval for manufacturing to resume operations. So, checks with the respective city councils need to be carried before they can reopen the factories, just in case.
When the federal government announced that the non-essential manufacturing sector can reopen, it specified that companies with fully-vaccinated workers between 40 and 59 per cent will be allowed to operate at 60 per cent capacity.
Fully-vaccinated workers between 60 and 79 per cent will be allowed to operate at 80 per cent capacity, while companies with fully-vaccinated workers between 80 and 100 per cent will be allowed to operate at full capacity.
To prove the percentage of vaccinated workers, companies will have to declare the numbers and names of their fully-vaccinated employees in the Covid-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) 3.0.
There are additional requirements as well. The resumption of operation is only applicable in states with more than 50 per cent adult vaccination rates.
Penang for example, is not allowed to resume manufacturing activities there and since Penang is the country's electronics manufacturing hub, home to plants Bosch and Continental, car plants that rely on Penang for parts still cannot resume operation.
Other than that, MITI has also declared that all companies are required to conduct RTK Antigen Testing as approved by the Health Ministry through self-testing or at health facilities every two weeks for their employees.
So, while manufacturers, and car showrooms as well, are now allowed to resume operations, they choose to remain closed for now as they consult the government for full clarification on the SOPs other than the usual physical distancing and wearing of face masks.
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