One of the main concerns related to the severe lockdown in Shanghai since the end of March is to facilitate the economic recovery as soon as possible to avoid serious consequences for world trade and further inconveniences for the population. Authorities in the city of around 26 million have announced they are introducing a “bubble” scheme for workers, allowing many to continue living at their place of work even after restrictions are eased, in a bid to restart the economy while curbing the spread of the coronavirus .
Since the lockdown began, many people in Shanghai have stayed at work at night, sleeping on camp beds or makeshift beds.
This happens, for example, in large manufacturing companies in order not to stop production and limit damage in the supply chain, but also on some university campuses and in companies dealing with finance. Over the weekend, the city government told local businesses that they must start planning to resume their activities after the lockdown ends and set up a “bubble” management system where workers live in the workplace and are tested regularly because of Corona. These measures are reminiscent of the very strict safety protocols put in place at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
There is currently no indication of when restrictions will be eased and it is unknown when the new system is expected to start or for what types of businesses.
One company that appears to have already taken steps to adapt to this bubble system is US electric car company Tesla. According to an internal memo seen by Bloomberg, Tesla — which didn’t comment — will provide all employees at the Shanghai plant with a mattress, a sleeping bag, three meals a day and a few tens of dollars in allowances (depending on the role). have to sleep in the local factory.
As the rest of the world learns to work from home, finance workers in Shanghai are learning to live at work. That means: sleeping on camp beds next to the desk and doing laundry in office toilets. pic.twitter.com/XlLNLJ9ZXu
Liza Lin (@lizalinwsj) April 6, 2022
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