Multinational company Unilever Nepal restarted partial operation on Monday after being closed for over 30 days.

“With our stock of soap getting low, we decided to resume production amid the lockdown,” said Jay Ram Dhital, president of All Nepal Industry Labour Union. According to him, the industry is operating from 9 am to 5 pm. Unilever Nepal produces toilet soaps, detergent powder, shampoo and toothpaste. But currently, the company is producing only soaps.

The company has around 200 staff but currently, only 18 workers are working at the factory. They follow social distancing measures recommended by the government, said the company.

According to Unilever Nepal, the company has started producing soaps in the first phase by maintaining proper social distancing measures. The company will start producing other regular goods soon. “The company is not in a situation to resume all production at once,” said the company’s administration, adding, “So we started by producing soap in the first phase.”
With the government asking the public to stay at home, workers are in short supply at the factory. The administration is paying Rs 350 a day to workers as a risk bonus to entice workers to come back. Workers are also transported from the factory to their homes and are provided with protective gear while working.

The company produces around 15,000 tonnes of toothpaste, 6,000 tonnes of soap and 5,000 tonnes of shampoo annually.