When faced with the potential production shutdowns due to a COVID-19
outbreak in Shanghai, General Motors
asked its workers to sleep on the job. Literally. The Detroit Free Press
reports that as Shanghai faced a COVID-19 outbreak and the ensuing lockdown, General Motors had to make some very utilitarian decisions to keep things going, including keeping its workers contained in its facilities to avoid interrupting operations. GM workers are living where they work
In a time where automakers are having trouble meeting consumer demand
, any shutdowns would disrupt production—which is why GM asked its workers to sleep on the factory floors where it produces its Buick, Chevrolet, and Cadillac vehicles for the Chinese market. China has a “zero-COVID” policy when containing coronavirus outbreaks, relying on contact tracing, mass testing and other measures to prevent the virus from getting another foothold in the population. Companies in China are required to enforce strict policies for its workers. It was that, or suspend production indefinitely until the threat had passed.
GM went with “closed-loop” containment policies that would require its employees to remain in the plant. It was able to secure passes for trucks to keep delivering supplies as well.
Reuters
was the first to report on this story, noting that Tesla and auto suppliers Aptiv PLC and Thyssenkrupp had opted to shut down their facilities and send workers home until April 6 in compliance with local COVID-19 regulations. Bosch told media that it had reduced personnel count at its two plants in Shanghai to keep automotive supply chain issues from resurfacing.
Closed-loop COVID containment
It’s not the first time the Chinese government’s closed-loop COVID-19 containment policies have gotten attention. The Beijing Olympics were subject to this strict closed-loop system, which Reuters
noted had prevented international reporters from doing much reporting outside of facility grounds. Athletes noted poor living conditions in the closed-loop system. But it worked, preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Olympics facilities or in the surrounding community.
Lockdown extended indefinitely
It’s unknown how long the Chinese government will keep Shanghai and its 26 million people under the latest lockdown. Reuters reported that despite the drop in reported symptomatic daily cases of coronavirus earlier this week, authorities extended the lockdown indefinitely. The lockdown had originally been slated to expire April 6.
It’s still uncertain if automakers and suppliers that suspended production until April 6 can manage extending those shutdowns given the latest announcement. GM, which partners with China’s SAIC Motor Corp., is likely to continue keeping its workers as tenants for the foreseeable future until authorities lift the Shanghai lockdown. At the very least, commuting to work won’t be a problem for these unfortunate employees.
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