GLOBAL road, air and sea organisations, representing management and labour, have called on the world's heads of government to end the bureaucratically imposed Covid lockdowns that have resulted in humanitarian crisis in the supply chain, reports the American Journal of Transportation.
In an open letter, the International Road Transport Union, the International Air Transport Association, the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Transport Workers' Federation, made an urgent plea to the world's heads of government to restore freedom of movement to transport workers.
Transport workers have all continued to keep global trade flowing throughout the pandemic, but it has taken a human toll. At the peak of the crew change crisis 400,000 seafarers were unable to leave their ships, some working for as long as 18 months over their initial contracts.
Flights have been restricted and aviation workers have faced the inconsistency of border, travel, restrictions, and vaccine requirements. Additional, systemic and unpredictable controls at road borders has meant truck drivers have been forced to wait, sometimes in their thousands and for weeks in unsanitary situations without proper facilities, before being able to complete their journeys and return home.
Global supply chains are beginning to buckle as two years' worth of strain on transport workers take their toll. Transport heads warned that states have failed to listen or take the decisive and coordinated action, and called on heads of government to end the blame-shifting within and between governments and resolve this crisis before the looming holiday season again increases freight demand, further pressuring supply chains.
SeaNews Turkey
In an open letter, the International Road Transport Union, the International Air Transport Association, the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Transport Workers' Federation, made an urgent plea to the world's heads of government to restore freedom of movement to transport workers.
Transport workers have all continued to keep global trade flowing throughout the pandemic, but it has taken a human toll. At the peak of the crew change crisis 400,000 seafarers were unable to leave their ships, some working for as long as 18 months over their initial contracts.
Flights have been restricted and aviation workers have faced the inconsistency of border, travel, restrictions, and vaccine requirements. Additional, systemic and unpredictable controls at road borders has meant truck drivers have been forced to wait, sometimes in their thousands and for weeks in unsanitary situations without proper facilities, before being able to complete their journeys and return home.
Global supply chains are beginning to buckle as two years' worth of strain on transport workers take their toll. Transport heads warned that states have failed to listen or take the decisive and coordinated action, and called on heads of government to end the blame-shifting within and between governments and resolve this crisis before the looming holiday season again increases freight demand, further pressuring supply chains.
SeaNews Turkey