Pou Chen Corp., the world’s largest maker of athletic shoes, has been ordered to suspend production at its Pouyuen Vietnam business over COVID-19 concerns, Vietnamese state media reported.
Pouyuen Vietnam was ordered to suspend production for two days from Tuesday after failing to meet local rules on social distancing, according to the Tuoi Tre newspaper. More than 260 people in Vietnam have been infected with the coronavirus, the most confirmed virus patients in the country after Hanoi.
“The suspension of Pouyuen Vietnam is necessary to ensure public health as well as the operations of the company,” said Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of Ho Chi Minh City, according to Reuters.
The suspension coincides with the final days of a 15-day national social distancing order imposed on April 1. Vietnam is considering extending the measures.
Pouyuen Vietnam employs 70,000 workers and operates three shifts a day. The group produces over 300 million pairs of shoes annually for Nike, Adidas, New Balance and others, accounting for approximately 20 percent of the combined wholesale value of the global branded athletic and casual footwear market, according to its website.
Photo courtesy Asia One
