Renault Trucks says it is preparing for a slow, gradual and safe resumption of activity in its production sites amid the gradual easing of lockdowns in Europe.
Factories in France began their restart on 22 April, 2020; starting with its Lyon-Venissieux Engine Plant. Other Renault Trucks production sites, such as Bourg-en-Bresse and Blainville-sur-Orne assembly plants, “should gradually resume their activity in the following weeks”.
The manufacture said it continues to follow the same baseline approach to protect the health and safety of its employees.
It has introduced a series of measures to lessen the risk of employees being exposed ot the Coronavirus. These include the disinfection of machinery, workstations and work tools, the wearing of masks, gloves and overalls, social distancing rules, organised movement in shared areas, and more.
Since the start of the lockdown and despite the temporary interruption in production, Renault Trucks has carried on serving its customers, as far as reasonably possible, by continuing in particular to supply spare parts and repair trucks, said the company in a statement: “These activities are essential to ensure the continuity of vital services to society, especially to transport and deliver basic necessities, medicines and food.”
Some employees have carried on working during the outbreak, Renault Trucks’ production, sales and R&D operations have come to a halt with “the vast majority of employees have been in short term layoff for almost a month”.
The confirmed that Renault Trucks in France has agreed a ‘fair compensation’ deal with trade unions for staff members in short term layoff.
“Applying until July 3, 2020, the agreement erases the disparities between the different categories of employees, resulting from the legal provisions and the Metallurgy collective agreement, protects the lowest wages and aligns compensation for all employees at 92% of their usual net pay thanks to the solidarity of managers, and thanks to an additional contribution from the company,” said Renault Trucks.
“This agreement allows all employees to be treated fairly during this unprecedented crisis period. It enables all employees to get close to 100% of their usual remuneration through a vacation buy-back plan, while safeguarding the company’s future,” emphasised Bruno Blin, president of Renault Trucks. “In addition to the employees’ solidarity, the company is contributing around 8% of the total payroll.”
The restart of industrial activity will be a slow process and planned to be spread over several weeks, “in line with customer demands, the ability of suppliers to deliver the required provisions, and in synchronisation with the other Volvo Group plants”.
Production rates for the coming months will be closely monitored and adjusted with the company’s management currently examining requests from its customers, dealers and bodywork partners and analysing market trends.
“We will only resume activities if health and safety conditions are exemplary – there will be no compromises. This is why we are envisaging a gradual restart, involving an initial period during which we will be testing the health protocols, as well as the supply chain and logistics, before considering a ramp-up,” explained Bruno Blin.
Measures to be taken in Renault Trucks plants include:
- Applying social distancing rules and protective measures,
- Widespread use of alternative masks,
- Wearing FFP2 masks with goggles or visors and gloves when the one-metre distance cannot be respected,
- Keeping doors open (except fire doors) to prevent contact with handles,
- Cleaning of workstations, work tools, logistics equipment, changing rooms and canteens,
- Organising movement in all common areas, changing rooms, corridors and canteens, extending the opening hours and limiting the number of people present at any given time,
- Introducing a special seating plan in transport shuttles to guarantee space between passengers.
