Choose your language

COVID-19 still disrupting global supply chains
Global | Geneva

COVID-19 still disrupting global supply chains

30 Mar 2022 · Prosperity

Long queues of trucks waiting to cross borders are still a reality in many parts of the world due to uncoordinated government COVID actions and a lack of mutual recognition of vaccinations. A new UN group, with IRU, is taking action. 

Although the war in Ukraine has overshadowed the COVID-19 pandemic as the latest threat, the virus still has a considerable impact on global supply chains. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have therefore set up a Joint Action Group on the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Its goal is to formulate recommendations to United Nations agencies to tackle the remaining issues related to COVID-19 vaccination, strengthen the resilience of supply chains for future pandemics, and update the WHO strategy on immunisation.

The group brought together the transport industry and transport workers organisations, including IRU, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

In their first meeting, they evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chains, in collaboration with international agencies such as WHO, ILO, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

Together, they identified best and worst practices, along with gaps in existing international guidance and operational protocols. 

“We still don’t see coordination at borders and expect this group to come up with tangible results shortly, in order to protect our drivers, mobility and supply chains, and enable the road transport industry to drive the recovery.”

Matthias Maedge
IRU’s Advocacy Director

The creation of the Joint Action Group comes after IRU’s Emergency Resolution on Supply Chain Disruptions and the joint call for world leaders to secure global supply chains, published jointly by IRU, IATA, ICS and ITF.