Customs sector: Continue to prioritise the safety of customs officers and support firms during the pandemic

Customs officers of Saigon Port area 1 Customs Branch (HCM City Customs Department) carry out clearance procedures for goods through the electronic system. Photo: T.Hòa

Timely solving problems

Deputy Director of the Customs Control and Supervision Department Dao Duy Tam said the GDVC continued requesting local customs units to maintain and establish support teams to handle problems in the implementation of customs procedures for import and export goods following directions of previous official dispatches, to promptly removed obstacles, and quickly cleared import and export goods for firms. Besides that, Import-Export Duty Department and Customs Control Supervision Department under the GDVC would directly receive, process or report to competent authorities or discuss with ministries and sectors to promptly handle problems of firms and local customs department in case the problems are excess of the jurisdiction of the GDVC.

For problems falling under their competence, the advisory units will submit to the GDVC to issue documents guiding local customs authority to implement immediately within three hours of receiving the problem. To facilitate firms, customs declarants, as well as local customs authorities, could timely reflect hot issues arising from reality via email, Zalo and Viber and professional units will immediately respond to information enterprises businesses or guide local customs authorities to promptly remove difficulties for firms.

Dao Duy Tam added that local customs departments need to continue to actively develop response plans to Covid-19 pandemic, limit contact when implementing customs procedures to ensure smooth cargo clearance. Many local customs units have had solutions for coping with arising situations like setting up a backup division, arranging customs officers to work online and remotely.

To support businesses in the current context, provincial and municipal customs departments need to continue to direct their affiliate customs branches to guide customs declarants and taxpayers to declare, submit customs dossiers, dossiers related to tax exemption, reduction and refund to the customs authority using the customs electronic data processing system or via postal or express delivery services.

In case of having to receive paper documents, Customs branches are requested to arrange a separate place to ensure separation from other professional divisions. Customs officers performing tasks at that place would be equipped with full equipment for pandemic prevention in accordance with regulations.

Working with other units to ensure safety in pandemic prevention

To ensure the safety of customs officers in tasks performance, according to Dao Duy Tam, customs branches that share offices with other sectors at the border gate, need to work with the management unit to arrange a separate line for customs officers to move, minimising the risk of infection. At the same time, the units have solutions to ensure the safety of customs officers in task performance such as conducting physical inspection, customs supervision, patrol and control through vaccination. Furthermore, preparing necessary equipment to prevent the pandemic such as masks, antiseptic solutions, protective clothing, anti-droplet glasses and thermometer.

Local customs units have closely followed the instructions of leaders at all levels on pandemic prevention to have appropriate response solutions to the situation.

Notably, from August 23, HCM City has increased the level of social distancing according to the principle of people staying where they are, houses are isolated, residential groups are isolated from residential groups, etc. To ensure the operations of import and export at the border gates, HCM City Customs Department has directed the heads of the units to actively prepare and work with port firms (if necessary) to develop a working plan, appropriate with the situation of social distancing. At the same time, arranging enough customs officers to perform tasks at the unit’s office including the plan for implementing the “three on-spot” model. The units must develop appropriate working plans, ensure safety following regulations on pandemic prevention and facilitate to import and export activities of firms.

For example, Binh Duong Customs has deployed many support solutions such as establishing quick response teams of the department and branches to handle problems and clear goods for businesses. At the same time, customs officers and employees must strictly follow the directions on anti-pandemic and economic development. Arranging working areas to meet the requirements of pandemic prevention to minimise direct contact and the risk of infection.