The General Office of the Ministry of Commerce ("MOFCOM") has recently issued the Circular on Continuing to Work Effectively on Response to the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (COVID-19) Epidemic in the Field of Foreign Project Contracting (the "Circular").
The Circular touches upon five aspects as below. First, the spread of the infectious disease through personnel dispatched overseas should be strictly prevented in the field of foreign project contracting. Before the end of the epidemic situation, the rotation between domestic personnel and personnel dispatched overseas should be reduced as much as possible in principle, and the dispatch should be deferred if possible. Second, a proper response should be given to entry control measures announced by some countries. Enterprises shall comprehensively learn about the entry limits, quarantine and isolation requirements of the dispatch destination as well as transit countries and regions, and make proper arrangements for their travels and work plans, to avoid being stranded at the airport and other issues and losses. Third, on-site management of contracted foreign projects should be strengthened. Enterprises shall establish and improve their management plans in response to environment, health, safety management and crisis in relation to projects abroad, and activate the special contingency plan for public health. Fourth, effective work on checking and reporting the health conditions of personnel dispatched overseas should continue. And fifth, risks related to contract performance that may arise as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic should be fully evaluated and properly responded to.