Sindh issues SOPs for online businesses to abide by amid coronavirus lockdown

The Sindh government on Saturday issued detailed standard operating procedures for businesses to abide by when conducting services online as the lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus continues to remain in effect.

Businesses, foremost are required to pledge they will "undertake to conduct business fully on-line/on phone", says a five-page notification released by the provincial home department.

They must then "give such undertaking before opening their business and shall be applicable to all persons engaged in such business including Owners, Proprietor, as well as their staff/workers, delivery persons etc".

At the workplace

Businesses are allowed to operate from 9am to 3pm with their shutters down. No customer is allowed to enter the shop premises.

Before they start online operations, they are required to give detailed briefings on the COVID-19 spread, preventive steps to be taken against the spread, and the signs and symptoms of the disease to look out for.

Workplaces must put up instructions with text as well as pictorial descriptions of guidelines to follow in all commonly understood languages such as English, Urdu and Sindhi.

It is the owner's responsibility to ensure all employees follow the set safety protocols, said the notice, adding that the provision of protective gear must also be ensured by the owner.

Among the SOPs issued — besides safety precautions such as no handshakes and frequent handwashing — is the maintenance of a "daily log of medical history" of all employees.

Thermal guns have to be used at all workplaces to scan for fever. Workers displaying symptoms of the virus must not be allowed.

In the unfortunate instance an employee contracts the virus, the employer must bear responsibility and all expenses for the treatment.

While making deliveries

Those handling deliveries must always wear protective gear, helmets with mark of business on them, carry hand sanitisers, place the delivery items on the customer's doorstep and wipe them with a disinfectant.

A distance of at least one metre is to be observed at all times and cash handling minimised. The business must provide customers electronic receipts for the transactions conducted.

Violation

Any business found violating any of the set protocols will be liable for action under the Sindh Epidemic Disease Control Act 2014 as well as any applicable labour or industrial law.

For this, inspectors duly authorised by deputy commissioners or secretaries may check the workplaces for compliance with the rules.

Law enforecement agencies, the deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner, and labour department officials are authorised under Section 3(1) of the Act to issue further orders or instructions and take action "if deemed necessary".