{"id":21727,"date":"2022-01-11T10:14:14","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T10:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seafarersrights.org\/?p=21727"},"modified":"2022-01-11T10:14:14","modified_gmt":"2022-01-11T10:14:14","slug":"un-agencies-and-other-international-organizations-establish-joint-action-group-to-protect-transport-workers-and-secure-supply-chains-during-the-covid-19-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seafarersrights.org\/un-agencies-and-other-international-organizations-establish-joint-action-group-to-protect-transport-workers-and-secure-supply-chains-during-the-covid-19-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"UN agencies and other international organizations establish Joint Action Group to protect transport workers and secure supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" GENEVA (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), together with other international organizations in the transport sector, have set up a Joint Action Group to review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic\u00a0<\/a> on the world\u2019s transport workers and the global supply chain. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are also members of the group.<\/p>\n

The Group was established following a meeting on 6 December 2021 of ILO Director-General Guy Ryder and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus with International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director Willie Walsh, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Secretary General Guy Platten, International Road Transport Union (IRU) Secretary General Umberto de Pretto and International Transport Workers\u2019 Federation (ITF) General Secretary Stephen Cotton, who drew attention to serious and urgent challenges faced by transport workers resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe world\u2019s 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,\u201d said Guy Ryder, Director-General of ILO.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO.<\/p>\n

Some of the travel restrictions that have been put in place across countries as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to undermine the health and safety of transport workers and pose a threat to the continuous functioning of the world\u2019s supply chains, including for the transport of medical goods and other essential supplies. In particular, the most recent travel bans and border closures implemented after the emergence of the Omicron variant are worsening this crisis\u00a0<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Group\u2019s work will focus on<\/strong>:<\/p>\n