Exporting seafood is difficult on all sides

Exporting seafood is difficult on all sides

TP - The COVID-19 epidemic has spread widely in the Mekong Delta provinces, where seafood production and processing is at a time of export acceleration, causing businesses to fall into difficulties. In many provinces, up to 50% of workers have quited, leading to reduced capacity or even closure.

Workers on massive leave

A representative of Go Dang Frozen Seafood Company (Tien Giang) said that after the company had positive cases for SARS CoV-2, the company fell into a very difficult situation. More than a hundred workers had to go to concentrated isolation, making the company not have enough manpower to ensure production activities. Up to now, the company has to reduce more than 60% of processing capacity, the loss is huge.

According to him, many businesses in the industry in Tien Giang also fall into a similar situation. “When there is a case of infection, any business that wants to operate must ensure the conditions of 3 on-site (the enterprise takes care of production - the place to eat and sleep on the spot for workers) but with the characteristics of the seafood processing industry, it cannot arrange accommodation for workers right at the frozen factory, so many businesses that cannot arrange it are forced to temporarily close the factory," he said.

According to representatives of many seafood processing and exporting enterprises, in the context of the stressful situation of the COVID-19 epidemic, they have tried to convince workers in many ways such as adequate accommodation, food and equipment. essential, additional allowance of 50,000 - 100,000 VND/day to maintain stable production. However, because of fear of infection, workers do not dare to go to work. Many businesses have up to 30%, even up to 50% of workers resign, causing businesses to fall into the situation of "on Tet holiday" early.

Increase fees, reduce materials

Seafood enterprises are also facing the situation of "charges and fees". Truong Dinh Hoe, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said that since the COVID-19 epidemic occurred, a series of costs have increased, an increase of 1.5-2 times. compared to before. When the disease spread more strongly in the Mekong Delta provinces, businesses incurred additional expenses for workers' accommodation, living, allowances, COVID-19 testing... Therefore, many businesses fell into dire straits.

“The epidemic spread at the right time to accelerate exports and seafood began to harvest, causing businesses to lose business opportunities. Many orders were canceled and partners claimed compensation for late delivery. Currently, in the Mekong provinces, raw shrimp is in the crop, but businesses can't buy and transport it, leading to excess shrimp in the pond, but the factory lacks raw materials for processing," said Hoe.

According to VASEP, currently in coastal provinces such as Binh Dinh, Kien Giang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau... enterprises have reduced their capacity by 20-70% due to lack of raw materials. It is forecasted that exports of shrimp, tuna, basa... in the last 6 months of the year are difficult to maintain growth like in the first 6 months.

Talking to PV Tien Phong, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said that before the problems of the seafood industry, the ministry has suggested localities to have solutions to support businesses, not to let the shortage of labor in the fisheries sector. stretched factory.

According to Mr. Nam, in the context of provinces implementing social distancing, causing difficulties in the circulation process, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed localities to create favorable conditions for traders and purchasing enterprises. The ministry proposed the Government direct the State Bank to have policies on capital (debt relaxation, interest rate reduction and preferential loans, ...) for aquaculture households, especially brackish water shrimp farming to accelerate production schedule in 2021.

Source: tienphong.vn - SEABINA GROUP's translation