Global organisations come together to secure supply chains

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), together with other global organisations in the transport sector, have set up a Joint Action Group to review the impact of COVID-19 on the world’s transport workers and the global supply chain. The group will focus on improving the operation of global supply chains.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are also members of the group.

The group’s work will focus on promoting the application by national authorities of operational protocols to facilitate the movement and protect the rights of cross-border transport workers, in line with states’obligations under the International Health Regulations (2005). It will promote COVID-19 vaccination of transport workers as per the recommendations of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization, as well as the access of seafarers to medical care and medical evacuation.

“The world’s transport sectors and their workers face immense, ongoing pressures and difficulties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. I am pleased therefore that we have now established a Joint Action Group that will review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these workers and encourage governments to apply internationally agreed protocols and standards,”said Guy Ryder, director-general of ILO.

“The COVID-19 pandemic remains a public health emergency of international concern that continues to adversely impact human health globally, and international trade and travel. Protecting the health of cross border transport workers and maintaining travel operations for emergency and humanitarian missions, essential personnel, repatriations, and cargo transport of essential supplies is of critical importance,”said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of WHO.

The Joint Action Group will meet regularly to discuss the evolving situation, assess the progress made, and agree on future actions to overcome remaining challenges.