BRAZIL - The industries of Bento Gonçalves, Brazil resume their activities this Monday, April 6th, authorized by Municipal Decree number 10.494, published last Sunday.

Operation authorization occurs upon compliance with a series of requirements provided for in the decree and, in addition to these measures, Sindmóveis (Syndicate of Furniture Industries of Bento Gonçalves) guided industries in the furniture sector to adopt other practices in order to prevent contagion in the workplace, stimulating the home office and the definition of shift flexibility policies, when applicable.

In addition, the entity suggests to companies in the sector the creation of screening and rapid isolation policies for suspicious cases, also indicating safe work practices and reinforcing the maintenance of the removal of workers over 60 years old, pregnant and lactating women and people with diabetes, hypertension, respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases and immunosuppressed patients.

The president of Sindmóveis, Vinicius Benini, reinforces that the industries have avoided layoffs, opting for the available alternatives, but that the implementation of economic measures is still expected to curb unemployment from now on, since a fall in production is inevitable.

The sector expects furniture production to return to normal in the second half of the year, with the 2019 job level recovering only in 2021. “The supply and demand shocks caused by the coronavirus in the world economy will strongly impact the sector, but it is too early to assess the size of the crisis and its extent. At the moment, as a union, our role is to make sure that companies, when they return, have what is necessary for everyone's safety, ”points out Benini.