Draft: after inputs from meeting on 29 April 2020

Concept Note
on
Adaptation of program in post-COVID-19 situation for safer workplace

1. Background

Besides being a health issue, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected the global
economy catastrophically but has had a spillover effect in Nepal. The World Bank estimates
that Nepal’s growth will fall to a range between 1.5 and 2.8 percent in FY20 reflecting lower
remittances, trade and tourism along with deceleration in services and industrial production
with expected recovery only in FY221.

To assure our own safety, the country is to be under strict lockdown for the six weeks
straight while voices for partial (less strict) lockdown have been heard through various
media. In line with this, a meeting chaired by Minister of Labour with industrial associations
on 19th April 2020, have discussed on 3 stage industry re-opening plan and paying industry
employees2. Similarly, industry associations like FNCCI have been working on raising
COVID-19 prevention awareness and the use of Personal Protective Equipment at the
workplace3.

All these efforts and many more are directed towards rapidly getting workforce inside the
workplace so that wheels of the economy can start turning. However, staying safe at the
workplace demands more specific measures. In this context, WHO 4 has advised to make
workplace clean and safe; promote regular and thorough hand washing; promote good
respiratory hygiene; COVID-19 contextual travel advice; organizing meetings and response
to spread. Hence, to bring the workforce back to the workplace, the measures for COVID
prevention in the workplace need to be put into action by industries and businesses in Nepal
as well.

In this background, ENSSURE Project has initiated discussion with some industry
associations to raise awareness about safe workplace amidst spread of contagious disease
and possible interventions following the awareness. The project mainly relies on industry
collaboration for implementing workplace-based trainings and is currently working with
industry associations and individual industry/businesses of 5 different sectors. Hence, for
smooth operation after lockdown or during/partial lockdown scenarios, preparatory work

1
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/04/11/nepal-must-ramp-up-covid-19-action-to-protect-its-people-revive-
economy
2
https://moics.gov.np/newsdetail/269/
3
https://www.fncci.org/news/detail.php?i=2348
4
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/getting-workplace-ready-for-covid-19.pdf
 Draft: after inputs from meeting on 29 April 2020

needs to be underway for a safer workplace not only for its trainees but for the safety of all
concerned.

2. Objectives

The objective of this adaptation plan is to support industry/businesses to make their

workplace safer for its workers and apprentices/trainees from COVID-19 and other
contagious diseases by raising awareness and devising possible interventions for behavioral
change.

3. Proposed activities

The activities proposed for this adaptation of program in post COVID situation for safer
workplace will be implemented in two stages: i) during/partial lockdown and ii) post
lockdown.

3.1 In During/Partial Lockdown scenario

This scenario is foreseen when the country is in total lockdown or only partial lockdown
with continuation of operations of some of the industries/businesses related to essentials
services and production. This also means only limited workers resume the work in the
indsutries while apprentices/trainees remain at home as technical schools would not be
open. Similarly, ENSSURE staff would be either working from home or only half the staff
would be attending office. The risk of transmission of COVID-19 is still very high. Hence,
the following activities are possible in this scenario:
a. Webinars for awareness-raising
ENSSURE will organize webinars on prevention and response for COVID-19 at
workplace among executive members of industry associations through health
experts. ENSSURE will also facilitate the associations to set up social media
platforms to conduct the webinars.
b. Support to develop citizen charter, Industry Workplan and Safe workplace
model
With support of the expert, the industry associations will develop citizen charter for
prevention and response of infectious and contagious disease. Likewise, the industry
associations will also develop a work plan and safe workplace model focused at re-
organizing the workplace to make it safe for workers and apprentices/trainees.
c. Preparation of industry-specific COVID plus prevention and response
guidelines
ENSSURE will support to prepare industry-specific COVID plus prevention and
response guidelines by working together with the industry associations. The
guidelines will be later implemented by individual industries and associations will
monitor the compliances.
 Draft: after inputs from meeting on 29 April 2020

3.2 In Post Lockdown scenario

This scenario is foreseen when lockdown is lifted, everything is open and life gets back
to normal. However, the risk of transmission still exists, hence the prevention and
control of COVID-19 and other contagious diseases is important for the prevention of
another potential outbreak.
Hence, following activities are envisioned in this scenario:
a. Implementation by Industries
ENSSURE with technical support from OHS expert will facilitate industries to
implement citizen charter, work plan and safework place model.
b. Distribution of IEC materials
ENSSURE will obtain/develop and distribute IEC materials related to COVID-19
prevention to associations and industries/businesses.
c. Awareness for partner schools
With support of OHS expert, ENSSURE will organize awareness program on
prevention and response for COVID and similar contagious diseases among
management team of partner school including those responsible for management of
apprenticeship and training with OJT programs. Further, ENSSURE will facilitate
them to raise awareness among their staff, trainees, students and partner industries.
d. Revise and Update OHS component
ENSSURE will revise and update the OHS component by integrating prevention and
response for COVID and similar contagious diseases.
Further, the possibilities of integrating it in the common module of CTEVT curricula
will be explored.

4. Stakeholders

Stakeholders
Industry Associations
(Federation of Grill and Steel Fabricators Nepal,
Auto mechanics Association of Nepal, Butwal
Auto Village, Chamber of Industries Morang,
etc.)
Roles
 Organize it, executive members, for
webinars
 Make its member industries aware of
COVID-19 prevention in the workplace
 Formulate industry-specific
guidelines/code of conduct (CoC)
 Ensure compliance of guidelines/CoC

Individual industry/businesses  Adhere to guidelines/CoC

 Raise awareness among staff and trainees
 Ensure use of PPE
Partner schools  Raise awareness among staff, trainees
 Draft: after inputs from meeting on 29 April 2020

(Schools implementing Apprenticeship, Training and partner industries

with OJT and Career Guidance Programs)  Ensure use of PPE
Trainees/apprentices  Adhere to safety protocols

5. Monitoring
During the lockdown and partial lockdown period, monitoring will be done through direct
observation through online media, photos and videos of events and workplace. While in
the post lockdown period, monitoring will be continued with the photo and videos of
workplace as well as through physical verification to a possible extent. Monitoring will be
done by using the monitoring criteria (checklist) developed with the expert support.

6. Work Plan

During/Partial
Post Lockdown
S Lockdown
Activities
N W1 W.
W2 W3 W4 W.. W..
(May 4-8) .
Identify and hire experts (ToR, Proposal by
1              
potential expert, Contract signing)
2 Collect IEC materials              
Finalize content (awareness raising and
3              
learning material)
Develop monitoring criteria - to check
4              
progress at workplace
5 Coordinate with associations              
6 Set up social media platform for webinar              
Conduct Webinar 1 - Federation of Grill and
7              
Steel Fabricators Nepal (FGFSN)
Conduct Webinar 2- Automechanics
8              
Association of Nepal, Kathmandu (AAN)
9 Conduct Webinar 3 - Butwal Auto Village              
Conduct Webniar 4 - Chamber of Industries
10              
Morang (CIM)
Finalize citizen charter, Workplan,
11              
Workshop Model
Finalize COVID plus prevention and
12              
response guidelines
13 Distribute IEC material              
14 Monitor progress              
Raise awareness on COVID like infectious
15
disease to partner schools