Good news: WTO and ILO to act to ensure freedom of movement for seafarers and other international transport workers

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tandse, and the Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO), Guy Ryder, have confirmed that their organizations will form an action group with major transport agencies "as a matter of urgency" to ensure the freedom of movement of international transport workers.

The commitment was made last week after organizations and unions representing road, air and maritime companies and workers met with Dr. Tandse and Mr. Ryder. They warned of the extraordinary impact of new travel restrictions on transport workers and an already fragile global supply chain in the wake of the Omicron mutation of the new coronavirus.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) have urgently called on government health authorities to coordinate measures and avoid restrictions on the movement of transport workers.

Dr. Tandse told the meeting that the work of the action group will begin this week and that regular meetings with IATA, ICS, ITF and IRU will be held in the future. He noted that other areas of focus will include modifying the yellow card (which is a medical passport issued by WHO) for use by transport workers as proof of vaccination.

The action group will ensure implementation of existing travel protocols developed by industry to protect the rights of transport workers.WHO and ILO also confirmed that further solutions to the issues raised by transport organizations will be discussed by the UN Secretary-General's Executive Committee in January 2022.

These transport agencies represent more than $20 trillion in world trade and 65 million global transport workers across the supply chain each year. They have previously expressed concern about the "knee-jerk" decision by governments to reimpose travel restrictions on transport workers in response to the outbreak. The emergence of omicron could disrupt supply chains and delay global economic recovery.

Since Omicron was classified as a "mutated virus of concern" by the WHO, some 56 countries have responded by tightening travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Clear steps issued to governments by transport agencies in September to ensure the free and safe movement of transport workers have apparently not been followed by these countries. With the emergence of omicron, it has become even more important to ensure that vaccination of transport workers is a priority, the organizations said, and WHO should encourage countries to adopt the organization's own endorsed tried and tested travel and health protocols for seafarers and drivers.

ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said, "The world's transport sector and its workers are facing enormous and ongoing stress and hardship from the New Crown Pneumonia pandemic. I am therefore pleased that we have now established a Joint Action Group which will examine the impact of the pandemic on these workers and encourage governments to adopt internationally agreed protocols and standards."

WHO Director-General Dr. Desmond Tan said, "The New Crown Pneumonia pandemic remains a public health emergency of international concern that continues to adversely affect global human health and international trade and travel. It is critical to protect the health of cross-border transport workers and to maintain travel operations for emergency and humanitarian missions, essential personnel, repatriation and the movement of goods for essential supplies."

ICS Secretary General Guy Platten commented, "If cross-border workers want a near-normal holiday, we need governments to urgently protect their health and safety. It is really worrying to see the harsh travel restrictions of last year starting to re-emerge in many countries, especially as millions of transport workers have been making huge sacrifices for unrecognized work for almost two years. Seeing WHO and ILO take a leadership role in protecting the rights of international transport workers gives us a sense of hope. We look forward to working closely with them in the coming weeks and months."

ITF Secretary General Stephen Cotton said, "As we enter the peak transport season over the Christmas period, we must work together to reduce the pressure on our global supply chains. We cannot blame transport workers for the supply chain disruptions caused by the global health crisis. We thank WHO and ILO for their commitment to work with us to urge all governments to prioritize vaccinations for transport workers and allow them to move freely and safely. If we truly want to break the cycle of embargoes and travel bans, then governments must also immediately stop blocking TRIPS exemptions and other barriers to the production of the universal vaccines needed to end this crisis."

IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto said, "We are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. While the millions of truck and coach drivers who provide vital cross-border transport services are still subject to uncoordinated and often abusive travel restrictions, I am encouraged by the active support of WHO and ILO as they work with us to push governments to properly coordinate and comply with the agreement."

IATA Director General Willie Walsh said, "With the global supply chain still struggling, the response of governments to the emergence of the Omicron variant virus could further jeopardize the global connectivity that has taken so long to rebuild. We therefore welcome WHO and ILO's commitment to work to ensure freedom of movement for international transport workers."

The organizations present at the crisis talks also called for transport workers to be given access to emergency health care and to have priority access to the WHO-approved vaccine for Neovirus pneumonia. They called for internationally coordinated protocols that affect cross-border workers, such as certifying vaccination status and/or Shinkansen pneumonia test results. They stressed the need for governments to do what they can to increase global vaccine supplies to accelerate the recovery of the transport industry.